Rosuvastatin no better than atorvastatin

Rosuvastatin no better than atorvastatin

Rosuvastatin is no better than atorvastatin in slowing progression of coronary atheroma, according to AstraZeneca, the manufacturer of rosuvastatin and sponsor of the study. Researchers compared rosuvastatin 40 mg to atorvastatin 80 mg in the Study of Coronary Atheroma by Intravascular Ultrasound: Effect of Rosuvastatin vs Atorvastatin (SATURN) trial. The primary efficacy endpoint was change from baseline in percent atheroma volume in a targeted coronary artery as assessed by intravascular ultrasound. After 104 weeks of treatment in some 1300 patients, there was a numerical greater reduction in favor of rosuvastatin, but the reduction did not reach statistical significance (astrazeneca.com/Media/Press-releases). The full results will be presented at the American Heart Association meeting in November. The results come as a blow to the manufacturer of rosuvastatin (Crestor) who had hoped to gain a marketing advantage before the introduction of low-cost generic atorvastatin into the market, slated for December.