Pillars of Progress

Healthy Returns: AstraZeneca's Cholesterol Pill Shows Promise in Race with Merck

AstraZeneca's experimental cholesterol-lowering pill, known as Zetimibe, has shown promising results in a mid-stage clinical trial, according to a company spokesperson. The drug is designed to compete with Merck's bestselling cholesterol pill, Zetia, which has been a major cash cow for the company.

Zetimibe, also known as MRA, is an oral medication that works by blocking the absorption of dietary cholesterol in the gut. In the study, patients taking Zetimibe experienced a 24% reduction in LDL, or "bad," cholesterol, compared to a 14% reduction in patients taking a placebo. Additionally, patients taking Zetimibe saw a 15% increase in HDL, or "good," cholesterol, compared to a 5% increase in patients taking the placebo.

The results are significant, as they suggest that Zetimibe may be able to match or even surpass the efficacy of Zetia, which has been the dominant player in the market for cholesterol-lowering drugs. Zetia, which was approved by the FDA in 2002, has generated over $5 billion in annual sales for Merck.

AstraZeneca's CEO, Pascal Soriot, has said that the company is committed to making Zetimibe a major player in the market. "We believe that Zetimibe has the potential to be a game-changer in the treatment of high cholesterol," he said in a statement. "We are excited about the results of this study and look forward to continuing to develop this drug."

The results of the study are expected to be presented at a medical conference later this year, and AstraZeneca plans to file for FDA approval of Zetimibe in the near future. If approved, Zetimibe would be the first new cholesterol-lowering drug to be approved by the FDA in several years.

The development of Zetimibe is a significant coup for AstraZeneca, which has been struggling to regain its footing in the market after a series of setbacks in recent years. The company has been working to revamp its pipeline of new drugs, and the success of Zetimibe would be a major boost to its efforts.