MSD and Schering-Plough highlight importance of NICE guidance

Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) and Schering-Plough have highlighted that patients who are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease because of high cholesterol levels may now have greater access to treatment as a result of guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

The companies state that their cholesterol-lowering drug Ezetrol (ezetimibe) has been recommended by NICE for use in combination with a statin in patients whose cholesterol levels remain above national targets.

The director of H.E.A.R.T UK – The Cholesterol Charity Michael Livingstone indicated that over one third of the 2.6 million people with coronary heart disease in the UK are not reaching government cholesterol targets and are at a high risk from heart attack and stroke.

“We are therefore delighted by the publication of the NICE guidance on ezetimibe. This approach to managing high cholesterol could benefit thousands of people.”

Ezetimibe is a cholesterol absorption inhibitor that blocks the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine.

Earlier this month MSD and Schering-Plough announced the meeting of an independent clinical and biostatistics panel to provide an update on the Enhance study comparing the use of Inegy with simvastatin in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.