CRESTOR Demonstrates Dramatic CV Risk Reduction in a Large Statin Outc...( NEW ORLEANS Nov. 9 /- New data fr...),Health

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- New data from the JUPITER study demonstrated that CRESTOR(R) (rosuvastatin calcium) 20 mg significantly reduced major cardiovascular (CV) events (defined in this study as the combined risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, arterial revascularization, hospitalization for unstable angina, or death from CV causes) by a dramatic 44% compared to placebo (p<0.001) among men and women with elevated hsCRP but low to normal cholesterol levels.

Results also showed that for patients in the trial taking rosuvastatin:

-- the combined risk of heart attack, stroke or CV death was reduced by

nearly half (47%, p<0.001).

-- risk of heart attack was cut by more than half (54%, p<0.001).

-- risk of stroke was cut by nearly half (48%, p=0.002).

-- total mortality was significantly reduced by 20% (p=0.02).

These results were accompanied by a median LDL-C reduction of 50% (p<0.001) resulting in an on-treatment median LDL-C of 55 mg/dL.

On the basis of the data, if the results are projected over a period of 5 years, 25 patients would need to be treated to prevent one major cardiovascular event (NNT=25).

The JUPITER results will be presented today at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions and were simultaneously published online by the New England Journal of Medicine.

"These results provide new information about CRESTOR's effects on CV risk. The JUPITER trial confirmed that CRESTOR dramatically reduces LDL-C cholesterol levels and has now demonstrated a nearly 50% reduction in the risk of heart attack and stroke in a population of patients who had elevated hsCRP but low to normal cholesterol levels," said Howard Hutchinson, Chief Medical Officer for AstraZeneca. "As is appropriate, the medical community, regulators, and guideline committees will now carefully consider these data and any implications for treating patients."

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