Livalo pitavastatin: Phase III data

Data from a double-blind, active-controlled, European Phase III trial in 857 patients showed that pitavastatin met the primary endpoint of non-inferiority to simvastatin as measured by a reduction of LDL-C from baseline at 12 weeks. Furthermore, 2 mg pitavastatin was superior to 20 mg simvastatin in reducing LDL-C, total cholesterol and non-HDL-C (p<=0.05 for all). The reductions in LDL-C were sustained for 52 weeks in a study extension. Patients received 2 or 4 mg pitavastatin or 20 or 40 mg simvastatin. Pitavastatin demonstrated a similar tolerability profile to simvastatin. Data were presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress meeting in Barcelona. ...