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The mechanism of the life-threatening drug-interaction of Bayer's cholesterol-lowering agent Lipobay/Baycol clarified
December 16, 2002Researchers from Finland have found that the cholesterol-lowering agent gemfibrozil (marketed as Lopid and generics) greatly increases the concentrations of cerivastatin (Lipobay or Baycol) in blood. This finding explains the observed muscle toxicity of the gemfibrozil-cerivastatin combination. This potentially fatal adverse effect of cerivastatin led to the withdrawal of Lipobay/Baycol from the market.
The concentrations of Lipobay were increased on average 5-6-fold by Lopid, in some individuals even 10-fold, in a study in healthy subjects. The study was conducted in the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Helsinki, by an independent group of researchers led by professor Pertti Neuvonen, MD, and Dr. Janne Backman, MD. This new finding is believed to explain a large number of the muscle toxicities and deaths reported in patients taking Lipobay.
The German pharmaceutical company Bayer withdrew Lipobay/Baycol from the market worldwide last year. At least 500 cases of muscle damage, including 100 deaths, have been reported in patients taking the drug. In almost half of the cases, Lipobay/Baycol had been used in combination with Lopid. The withdrawal of Lipobay/Baycol was a great disappointment and huge financial loss to the company that is best known as the inventor of aspirin.
Combinations of lipid-lowering agents are used for treatment of mixed-type lipid disorders. Muscle toxicity is a rare but potentially serious adverse effect of all statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs like Lipobay. The risk of muscle toxicity during treatment with statins increases when their concentrations in blood increase too much.
Gemfibrozil has been found to increase moderately the concentrations and muscle toxicity of also some other statins, such as simvastatin (Zocor and generics). Yet, these statins can be cautiously coadministered with gemfibrozil without compromising patient safety.
The study was published in the December issue of the respected scientific journal Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics.
Helsingin yliopisto (University of Helsinki)
Combinations of lipid-lowering agents are used for treatment of mixed-type lipid disorders. Muscle toxicity is a rare but potentially serious adverse effect of all statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs like Lipobay. The risk of muscle toxicity during treatment with statins increases when their concentrations in blood increase too much.
Gemfibrozil has been found to increase moderately the concentrations and muscle toxicity of also some other statins, such as simvastatin (Zocor and generics). Yet, these statins can be cautiously coadministered with gemfibrozil without compromising patient safety.
The study was published in the December issue of the respected scientific journal Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics.
Helsingin yliopisto (University of Helsinki)
Cholesterol Current Events and Cholesterol News RSSStudy suggests dentists can identify patients at risk for fatal cardiovascular event
A new study indicates dentists can play a potentially life-saving role in health care by identifying patients at risk of fatal heart attacks and referring them to physicians for further evaluation.
UCLA researchers reconstitute enzyme that synthesizes cholesterol drug lovastatin
Researchers from the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have for the first time successfully reconstituted in the laboratory the enzyme responsible for producing the blockbuster cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin.
Researchers identify the three killer indicators that are even worse than high cholesterol
Researchers at the University of Warwick have identified a particular combination of health problems that can double the risk of heart attack and cause a three-fold increase in the risk of mortality.
Can charcoal fight heart disease in kidney patients?
Charcoal may provide a new approach to managing the high rate of heart disease in patients with advanced kidney disease, according to preliminary research being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in San Diego, CA.
Widely used cholesterol-lowering drug may prevent progression
Simvastatin, a commonly used, cholesterol-lowering drug, may prevent Parkinson's disease from progressing further. Neurological researchers at Rush University Medical Center conducted a study examining the use of the FDA-approved medication in mice with Parkinson's disease and found that the drug successfully reverses the biochemical, cellular and anatomical changes caused by the disease.
Statins show dramatic drug and cell dependent effects in the brain
Besides their tremendous value in treating high cholesterol and lowering the risk of heart disease, statins have also been reported to potentially lower the risks of other diseases, such as dementia.
Web-based nutrition program reduces health care costs for employees with cardiac risk factors
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) have shown that an employer-sponsored, internet-based diet and exercise program shows promise as a low-cost benefit to lower healthcare costs for those at higher risk for above-average costs and healthcare utilization such as cardiac, hyperlipidemia, hypertension or diabetes patients. These findings appear in the current issue of the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
Cholesterol-lowering medicines may be effective against cancer
Statins lower cholesterol by blocking certain enzymes involved in our metabolism.
Experts unveil new CVD guidelines and position papers
Several new guidelines and position papers offering the most up to date information to ensure that clinicians practice evidence-based medicine were released at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2009 this week.
Adding ezetimibe to atorvastatin improves lipid control
Adding ezetimibe to atorvastatin significantly boosted the attainment of lipid targets as specified by both Canadian and European guidelines in elderly patients aged 65 and older and the combination produced superior results than simply increasing the dose of atorvastatin alone.
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