Results From the SEAS (Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Steno...(study is a randomized double-blindtrial ...),Health

In combination, the SHARP and IMPROVE-IT studies involve about 4 times as many cancers as in the SEAS study. The analysis of SHARP and IMPROVE-IT does not support the suggestion of an increase in cancer that was raised by the subsidiary analyses of the relatively small numbers of cancers in the SEAS study. Independent analysis of these data was initiated and has been conducted and interpreted by the Clinical Trial Service Unit (CTSU) at the University of Oxford, UK. The CTSU also designed and is conducting the SHARP trial, which is funded by a research grant to the University of Oxford from MSD and Schering-Plough academic. Both the SHARP study and the analyses of cancer data have been conducted by the CTSU independently of the pharmaceutical companies. Please, refer to the press release issued by the CTSU today.

In conclusion, the SEAS study has found that intensive LDL-cholesterol lowering with the combination of simvastatin and ezetimibe in patients with mild to moderate aortic stenosis does appear to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease events (as has been shown for many other types of patient in previous trials) but not the rate of progression of aortic valve disease. The use of simvastatin and ezetimibe in such patients was generally well tolerated and safe.