LDL-C Lowering of Pitavastatin Equivalent to Other Statins but Effect on HDL-C and Triglycerides Superior, Review of Primary Publications Shows

LDL-C Lowering of Pitavastatin Equivalent to Other Statins but Effect on HDL-C and Triglycerides Superior, Review of Primary Publications Shows PR Newswire WOKINGHAM, England, June 12, 2012 WOKINGHAM, England, June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- (1,2)Two papers published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology complete the publication of data from the pitavastatin development programme by Japanese-headquartered company, Kowa. Kowa now has clinical study data from nearly 25,000 patients for its novel and potent statin, pitavastatin, showing its efficacy and pharmacokinetics are consistent across the world. The last tranche of primary data show pitavastatin is as effective as other commonly used statins at lowering low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), with excellent tolerability. (3,4,5,6,7) (8,5)Pitavastatin is also effective at elevating high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) levels, reducing triglyceride (TG) levels, and (3)appears to have less effect on glycaemic control, than some other statins. Comparisons to simvastatin in patients with dyslipidemia at high risk of coronary heart disease showed the two statins to be equivalent. In one study, 355 patients were randomised between pitavastatin and simvastatin: both drugs were equally effective at reducing LDL-C but pitavastatin increased HDL-C by 6.8%, compared to 4.5% in the simvastatin arm, and was (5)better than simvastatin at reducing triglycerides (TG).