More Western hypercholesterolemic patients achieve Japan Atherosclerosis Society LDL-C goals with rosuvastatin therapy than with atorvastatin, pravastatin, or simvastatin therapy.

BACKGROUND: Data from Western comparative trials suggest that rosuvastatin is more effective than atorvastatin, simvastatin, and pravastatin in helping hypercholesterolemic patients achieve US and European lipid-lowering guidelines. The purpose of this analysis was to assess the comparative efficacy of rosuvastatin in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to levels recommended by the Japan Atherosclerosis Society (JAS). METHODS AND RESULTS: A post hoc analysis of data from 6 randomized, double-blind, active-controlled trials was conducted to evaluate the relative efficacy of rosuvastatin and comparator statins in helping patients achieve the LDL-C goals established by the JAS. The first 5 trials, prospectively designed for pooling, were originally conducted to compare the effects of rosuvastatin with either atorvastatin, simvastatin, or pravastatin in reducing lipid levels and helping patients achieve the LDL-C goals established by the National Cholesterol Education Program. The 6th trial was conducted with similar objectives, but in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH). Data from 2,139 hypercholesterolemic patients in the first 5 trials were pooled for analysis: rosuvastatin 5 mg (n=390) or 10 mg (n=389) vs atorvastatin 10 mg (n=393); rosuvastatin 5 mg (n=240) or 10 mg (n=226) vs simvastatin 20 mg (n=249) or pravastatin 20 mg (n=252). In the studies with atorvastatin as the comparator, JAS-defined LDL-C goals were reached by 67.2% of the rosuvastatin 5-mg group, 82.3% of the rosuvastatin 10-mg group, and 58.0% of the atorvastatin 10-mg group (p<0.001 for both rosuvastatin groups vs atorvastatin) at 12 weeks. Similarly, in the trials with pravastatin and simvastatin as comparators, the JAS LDL-C goals were reached by 77.5% of the rosuvastatin 5-mg group, 86.7% of the rosuvastatin 10-mg group, 45.2% of the pravastatin 20-mg group and 65.5% of the simvastatin 20-mg group (p<0.001 for both rosuvastatin groups vs pravastatin and simvastatin). In the trial of HeFH patients (n=433 for rosuvastatin, n=187 for atorvastatin), 31.9% of patients treated with rosuvastatin 20 mg achieved JAS LDL-C goals, compared with 17.6% of patients treated with atorvastatin 20 mg (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Rosuvastatin has demonstrated clinical superiority over atorvastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin in reducing LDL-C levels and in enabling patients to reach goals established by the JAS.

Comparison of rosuvastatin versus atorvastatin in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HFH) is a common genetic disorder that confers a significantly increased risk of early coronary artery disease. This study compared atorvastatin and rosuvastatin in reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in HFH in a global, 18-week, weighted-randomization, double-blind, parallel-group, forced-titration study. Following a 6-week diet lead-in, 623 patients were randomized to 20 mg/day of atorvastatin (n = 187) or rosuvastatin (n = 436) with forced titration at 6-week intervals to 80 mg/day. The primary end point was percentage change in LDL cholesterol from baseline to week 18. At week 18, rosuvastatin therapy produced a significantly greater reduction in LDL cholesterol than atorvastatin (-57.9% vs -50.4%; p <0.001) and a significantly greater increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (12.4% vs 2.9%; p <0.001). Rosuvastatin also produced significantly greater reductions in apolipoprotein-B and all 4 major lipid ratios, as well as a significantly greater increases in apolipoprotein A-I (all p <0.001). More patients with HFH with coronary artery disease achieved the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III goal of LDL cholesterol <100 mg/dl (<2.6 mmol/L) on rosuvastatin 40 and 80 mg than atorvastatin 80 mg (17%, 24%, and 4.5%, respectively). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein median values were reduced by 33% to 34% in both the 80-mg rosuvastatin- and atorvastatin-treated groups. Both treatments were well tolerated. Thus, in HFH, rosuvastatin force titrated from 20 to 80 mg/day produced significantly greater reductions than atorvastatin 20 to 80 mg/day in LDL cholesterol and improvements in HDL cholesterol and other lipid parameters, and enabled more patients to achieve LDL cholesterol goals.

Randomized dose-response study of rosuvastatin in Japanese patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Rosuvastatin is a novel statin that has been shown to produce large dose-dependent reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in Western hypercholesterolemic patients. Rosuvastatin dose response was assessed in a randomized, double-blind phase II trial in which 112 Japanese patients with fasting LDL-C > 160 and < 220 mg/dl and triglycerides < 300 mg/dl received placebo or rosuvastatin 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, or 40 mg once daily for 6 weeks. LDL-C change from baseline showed a linear dose response (p < 0.0001 for slope of regression line) over the rosuvastatin dose range, with each doubling of dose producing an additional 5.12% reduction. Mean reductions (least-squares mean percentage change from baseline from ANOVA) in LDL-C were 35.8% to 66.0% and significantly different from placebo at all doses (p < 0.0001). Linear dose response was also observed for total cholesterol (TC) and apolipoprotein (apo) B, but not for triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), or apo A-I or A-II. Mean changes at 6 weeks were - 25.5 to - 45.1% for TC, - 16.0 to - 26.2% for TG, + 7.5 to + 12.8% for HDL-C, - 31.9 to - 57.8% for apo B, + 5.5 to + 10.0% for apo A-I, and + 0.4 to + 8.1% for apo A-II. Rosuvastatin was well tolerated. Although there was some suggestion of increased frequency of treatment-related adverse events at higher doses, there were no clear dose relationships in safety parameters. Only one patient withdrew from the study because of a treatment-related adverse event. No patients had clinically significant elevations in liver transaminases or creatine kinase. Rosuvastatin produces good dose-related reductions in LDL-C and beneficial changes in other lipid fractions in Japanese hypercholesterolemic patients and is well tolerated.