Pfizer: High-dose Lipitor ‘reduces risk of heart attack and stroke’ in kidney disease patients

Pfizer has announced the publication of data from a new analysis showing that Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) 80mg reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke in chronic kidney disease patients compared to a 10mg dose of the same drug.

The results, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, showed a 32 per cent drop in the risk of heart and stroke in patients taking the higher dose of the drug compared to those taking the lowest drug.

Pfizer’s analysis followed the closure of its five-year Treating to New Targets study, which had the primary endpoint of the reduction of major cardiovascular events, including fatal and non-fatal strokes, resuscitated cardiac arrest, non-fatal heart attacks and death from heart disease.

Dr James Shepherd, clinical academic consultant at the department of pathological biochemistry at the University of Glasgow Medical School, said: “People with chronic kidney disease are more likely to die from heart disease than to develop kidney failure.”

He added that it is critical to seek out new methods of reducing the cardiovascular burden in these patients, with the intensive use of statins looking to be part of the solution.

Earlier this month, Pfizer announced that an 80mg dose of Lipitor showed an unexpectedly strong reduction in myocardial ischemia when used in chronic stable angina patients.