The FDA Approval Of Merck's Cholesterol Lowerer, Liptruzet, Doesn't Help Its Credibility
Given this history, what was the FDA thinking in approving another Zetia/statin combination? It is not as if a drug like Liptruzet is desperately needed. After all, there are plenty of statins available that have shown their ability to reduce CV events in long term studies. Furthermore, each component of Liptruzet is already available to physicians and so can be prescribed to be used together, should a physician deem this necessary. Shouldn’t the FDA have waited for the results of Merck’s IMPROVE-IT study before unleashing another such combination? Think of the embarrassment for the FDA should IMPROVE-IT show that th...
Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News - May 10, 2013 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: John LaMattina Source Type: news
Liptruzet Approved By FDA To Cut Cholesterol, Despite Criticism By Cardiologists
Liptruzet, a cholesterol-lowering drug that combines Merck's Zetia (ezetimibe) with atorvastatin (generic version of Pfizer's Lipitor) has been approved by the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration). According to Merck and Co, Liptruzet tablets are for the treatment of high LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol in patients with primary or mixed hyperlipidemia alongside a special diet when diet alone is not enough. Hyperlipidemia is an excessively high concentration of fats (lipids) in the blood... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - May 5, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Cardiovascular / Cardiology Source Type: news
FDA approves Merck's Liptruzet (atorvastatin/ezetimibe)FDA approves Merck's Liptruzet (atorvastatin/ezetimibe)
The combination, known as Liptruzet, is approved for the treatment of elevated LDL cholesterol levels in patients with primary or mixed hyperlipidemia as an adjunct to dietary changes. FDA Approvals (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - May 4, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Cardiology News Alert Source Type: news
FDA OKs Liptruzet for High LDL
(MedPage Today) -- The FDA approved Liptruzet, a combination of ezetimibe and atorvastatin, for the treatment of hyperlipidemia, drug maker Merck announced today. (Source: MedPage Today Cardiovascular)
Source: MedPage Today Cardiovascular - May 3, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
FDA approves atorvastatin/ezetimibe combo tablet
The combination, known as Liptruzet, is approved for the treatment of elevated LDL-cholesterol levels in patients with primary or mixed hyperlipidemia as an adjunct to dietary changes. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - May 3, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
FDA Approves Combination Of Ezetimibe And Atorvastatin
The FDA has approved a new combination drug from Merck for lowering cholesterol. The drug, which will carry the brand name of Liptruzet, is a combination of two previously approved cholesterol-lowering drugs, ezetimibe and atorvastatin. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)
Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News - May 3, 2013 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Larry Husten Source Type: news
FDA Approves Merck’s LIPTRUZET™ (ezetimibe and atorvastatin), a New Product That Can Help Powerfully Lower LDL Cholesterol
Dateline City:
WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J.
LIPTRUZET Approved for Patients with Primary or Mixed Hyperlipidemia, as an Adjunct to Diet When Diet Alone Is Not Enough
Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved LIPTRUZET™(ezetimibe and atorvastatin) tablets for the treatment of elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in patients with primary or mixed hyperlipidemia as adjunctive therapy to diet w...
Source: Merck.com - Corporate News - May 3, 2013 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Maria.tortoreto at merck.com Tags: Research and Development News Corporate News Latest News Source Type: news
Merck Cholesterol Trial Can Continue
An independent monitor told the company it could proceed with a large clinical trial of Vytorin, Merck said. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - March 13, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: By REUTERS Tags: Clinical Trials Merck & Company Inc MRK NYSE Vytorin (Drug) Source Type: news
Panel Clears Merck's Vytorin Trial to Continue
A closely watched clinical trial for Merck's cholesterol-lowering blockbuster Vytorin was cleared to proceed by a safety board overseeing the research. (Source: WSJ.com: Health)
Source: WSJ.com: Health - March 12, 2013 Category: Pharmaceuticals Tags: PAID Source Type: news
Vytorin study to continue after review; Merck shares jump
(Reuters) - An independent monitoring board said a large trial of Merck & Co's Vytorin cholesterol drug can continue, suggesting no major safety issues have yet been seen with the pill. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - March 12, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: healthNews Source Type: news
Conference report: Niacin/laropripant combination (Tredaptive) associated with increased risk of bleeding and infections
Source: Reuters Health News
Area: News
Reuters Health News has reported that according to data presented at the annual American College of Cardiology scientific meeting, niacin in combination with laropripant (Tredaptive) was associated with statistically significantly higher rates of bleeding (2.5% vs 1.9%), and infections (8.0% vs 6.6%) compared to patients taking simvastatin or simvastatin/ezetimibe. They called the differences unexpected.
Additionally, patients taking Tredaptive also experienced higher rates of serious health problems that researchers said are known side effects of niacin, which included ne...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - March 12, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news
High-stakes cholesterol study could lift Merck cloud
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Favorable results from a huge heart study could help redeem investors' faith in Merck & Co and its two biggest cholesterol drugs, Vytorin and Zetia, and potentially add billions of dollars in annual revenue. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - February 15, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: healthNews Source Type: news
Merck Settles Investor Suits Over Cholesterol Drug
The drug maker agreed to pay $688 million to settle two lawsuits that said it had harmed investors by delaying the release of unfavorable study results for a cholesterol drug. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - February 15, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: By KATIE THOMAS Tags: Pfizer Inc PFE NYSE Decisions and Verdicts Cholesterol Suits and Litigation Merck & Company Inc MRK NYSE Vytorin (Drug) Source Type: news
Merck to Pay $688 Million Settlement
Merck agreed to pay $688 million to settle lawsuits claiming that shareholders lost money when the company reported negative results of a clinical trial of cholesterol-lowering drug Vytorin in 2008. (Source: WSJ.com: Health)
Source: WSJ.com: Health - February 14, 2013 Category: Pharmaceuticals Tags: PAID Source Type: news
