FDA Approves Abbott’s Simcor Cholesterol Med
3 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // February 15th, 2008 // 5:47 pm
The move will intensify competition in this already heated market, because the pill is supposed to raise HDL, or good cholesterol, while also lowering LDL, or bad cholesterol, along with tryglicerides. Simcor, by the way, actually combines simvastatin, the generic name for Zocor, and Niaspan, a drug that Abbott acquired as part of its purchase of Kos Pharmaceuticals.
Given the controversy over Vytorin, the timing for Abbott is advantageous. At the same time, this may augur well for Merck, which hopes to receive FDA approval for its own Cordaptive pill, which also contains niacin. But whether Simcor can do a better job of preventing heart attacks or death than either simvastatin or Niaspan remains to be seen. The two components have separately demonstrated an ability to reduce heart attacks and death, The Wall Street Journal reminds us.
In data given to the FDA, 640 patients were started on simvastatin, then added Niaspan to their regimen, according to Abbott. After 24 weeks, patients experienced a 12 percent decrease in LDL beyond the 7 percent they experienced on simvastatin alone, a 21 percent increase in HDL compared to 8 percent on simvastatin alone, and a 27 percent decrease in triglycerides compared to 15 percent in simvastatin alone.
Abbott says it is currently conducting a study investigating whether Simcor is better than simvastatin or Niaspan alone, but results won’t be available until 2011, according to the Journal. The drugmaker also has a study underway to investigate whether Simcor slows down or even reverses clogging in the arteries using an imaging technology similar that that which was used in the Enhance trial that compared Vytonin to its two component drugs, Zetia and Zocor.
Mike M
I have no clue why these drugs that contain multiple products should be regarded as unique entities. “Simcor” better than simvastatin or niacin alone, who cares? Unless it is somehow better and/or safe than the combination, who could ever justify the cost of such a thing?
LILI
The problems with cholesterol drugs or any other medication is thatevery drug company wants ia Blockbuster drug—MONEY!is the answer! The pharmaceuticals or FDA and Congress are mot
worried about the health consequences that cholesterol drugs has caussed, because it has
been kept quiet.
It was the same in the 1960’s antidepressants were prescribed, even though, depression was the cause of
a medical problem. Dr. Sidney Walker and many other doctors were stopped from
revealing the truth about psychiatric medications. Dr. Barna Barnes wrote about many
physical aliments, such as thyroid issues were treated as Bipolar, schizophrenia and
because of this never recovered and their families thought they had a psychiatric problems.
Dr. Al Siebert, Charles Inlander and many others noted doctors also wrote about the
corruptiion of the medical profession with realation to the pharmaceutical Comapanies. In
fact in the 1930’s the American Medical Assoiciation stopped the investigatiion of the
corrupt Mental treatments and the conditions in the United States. Today, Ameerica is
creating medical problem with prescribing medications that are causing dangerous
harmful effects, and the cause of premature death. It is all about money and greed—and
our elected and appointed officals are the culprits. All citizens must be in command and
inform your representative what you expect of them—TRUTH AND HONESTY
Elsie
Mike M - The fact is that most doctors use this combination already. So a combination pill SAVES patients moneywith one co-pay rathar than paying two. Oh, by the way, Simcor is the same price as Niaspan alone if you pay out of pocket costs.
Lili - What the…? Apples to Apples PLEASE! It is not the same thing as the 1960’s honey. Do you even realise how many people are kept alive and healthy on anti-cholesterol lowering medications? Get educated.