Abbott and AstraZeneca to develop of Crestor and ABT-335 combination

Abbott and AstraZeneca have announced that they are to continue the development of a combination treatment for patients at risk of cardiovascular disease, with a fixed-dose single pill form of Abbot’s ABT-335 (fenofibrate) and Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium) from AstraZeneca to enter phase III clinical trials.

The companies express confidence that the pill will target all major lipids, increasing “good” HDL cholesterol while reducing “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, with studies continuing on schedule.

Crestor is a once-daily lipid-lowering medication currently available on prescription as an adjunctive treatment with diet to treat primary hypercholesterolemia, mixed dyslipidemia and isolated hypertriglyceridemia.

ABT-335 is a next-generation fenofibrate currently being developed by Abbott to tackle abnormal lipids in the bloodstream

James Blasetto, vice-president of strategic development at AstraZeneca, said: “The combination of Crestor and ABT-335 may be an important option to help patients with mixed dyslipidemia achieve their treatment goals.”

He added that the firm is dedicated to the investigation of new treatment options to benefit patients exhibiting a high risk of cardiovascular disease.

In March 2007, AstraZeneca presented findings of the Meteor trial to the American College of Cardiology, showing that Crestor has a positive affect on atherosclerosis in patients with early signs of carotid artery disease.