Pfizer drug ‘reduces risk of heart attack and stroke’

Pfizer has presented the results of a subanalysis showing Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in heart disease, type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease patients.

Administered in an 80mg dose, the compound was found to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events by 35 per cent compared to a 10mg dose.

Patients with type 2 diabetes and heart disease but not chronic kidney disease saw a ten per cent reduction in the risk of major cardiovascular events with Lipitor 80mg compared to Lipitor 10mg, at which dose the drug did not reach significance.

The results followed the closure of the five-year treating to new targets study and were published in the current issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Dr James Shepherd, clinical academic consultant at the department of pathological biochemistry at the University of Glasgow Medical School, said: “Patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease are much more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke than patients with diabetes alone, increasing the urgency to treat.”

He added the study results support existing guidelines to aggressively lower LDL cholesterol using statin therapy in these patients to reduce the likelihood of stroke or heart attack.

In July 2008, Pfizer announced the results of an observational study showing patients were more likely to stay on Lipitor than simvastatin.