Genzyme announces European launch of Cholestagel

Genzyme has announced that its first commercially available cardiovascular product is soon to be released in Europe.

Cholestagel, a non-absorbed, cholesterol-lowering agent aimed at treating patients with primary hypercholesterolemia who cannot meet their targeted cholesterol levels, is to be launched across Europe, with the UK, the Netherlands and Scandinavia first to stock the product.

Senior vice president James A Geraghty confirmed that the launch reflected the company’s efforts to provide treatments for patients with serious “unmet medical needs”.

“Cholestagel offers patients at high risk of life-threatening cardiovascular disease a new way to manage their cholesterol,” he stated.

The announcement comes off the back of a post-approval study initiated in August 2007 which aims to demonstrate the efficacy of Cholestagel as an add-on therapy in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, with results expected in late 2008.

Cholestagel is initiated to lower LDL cholesterol and can be taken independently or in combinations with other cholesterol-lowering medications such as statins.

Last month, Genzyme and Bayer Schering Pharma announced the start of its first phase III trial looking into the safety and efficacy of alemtuzumab for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.