AstraZeneca puts Crestor head-to-head with Lipitor
pharmafile | January 17, 2008 | News story | Research and Development |Â Â Â
AstraZeneca's Crestor will go head-to-head with Pfizer's mega-brand Lipitor in a global trial assessing the two statins in cardiovascular disease.
The SATURN trial will examine the drugs' impact on the progression of atherosclerosis in high-risk patients, comparing their ability to decrease progression or induce regression of atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis – a hardening of the arteries – is the main cause of cardiovascular disease and if AstraZeneca can show its drug offers prescribers a clinical advantage over market-leader Lipitor it could boost sales.
Crestor's global medical science director Elisabeth Bjork said: "Two major studies in the GALAXY programme have already demonstrated the significant impact of CRESTOR 40mg on atherosclerosis across the disease spectrum.
"The results of the SATURN study will provide additional information on how best to treat patients with advanced atherosclerosis."
The new phase IIIb study is expected to be completed in 2011. It will involve around 1,300 patients at trial centres across the world, with the first patient due to be enrolled later this month.
It is the second head-to-head trial AstraZeneca has launched recently for Crestor following last autumn's study comparing it with Schering-Plough and Merck's Vytorin.
Although Pfizer has a runaway lead in the cholesterol management market, estimated in 2006 to be worth $32 billion, AstraZeneca with Crestor and Schering-Plough/Merck with Zetia and Vytorin are in a close race for second place.






