AstraZeneca receives approval for new Crestor indication

AstraZeneca has received approval from European regulators for its heart disease drug Crestor (rosuvastatin) to be used as a new indication for certain patients.

The decision means that the drug has been ratified in nineteen different EU nations for preventing the occurrence of heart attacks and strokes among those at risk of suffering a first cardiovascular event.

This approval was based on positive findings from the recent Jupiter clinical study, which tested the drug among almost 9,000 patients.

It was found that those treated using a 20 mg rosuvastatin regimen achieved a significant reduction in the combined endpoint of heart attacks, strokes and death from major cardiovascular events.

Michael Cressman, executive director of clinical research for Crestor, said: “This new indication is a significant milestone and means that rosuvastatin can now be prescribed to high risk patients.”

Earlier this month, AstraZeneca published clinical trial data from a new study of the coronary syndrome drug Brilique, demonstrating the treatment’s efficacy compared to clopidogrel.