Long-term safety and tolerability of ezetimibe coadministered with simvastatin in hypercholesterolemic patients: a randomized, 12-month double-blind extension study

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To assess the long-term safety and tolerability and to further evaluate the effect of ezetimibe plus simvastatin on LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglyceride levels in subjects with primary hypercholesterolemia.

Methods: This was a 12-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled extension study that enrolled patients with primary hypercholesterolemia who had successfully completed the 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of ezetimibe coadministered with simvastatin. The initial dose administered to patients in the extension was ezetimibe 10 mg coadministered with simvastatin 10 mg with the option to up-titrate statin dosage if LDL-C goals were not met. Safety and tolerability were assessed through clinical and laboratory adverse experiences (AEs). Changes from baseline in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride levels were measured.

Results: Overall, 87 patients were randomized to receive ezetimibe + simvastatin and 22 were randomized to receive simvastatin and placebo. Treatment-emergent AEs were reported for 72/87 (83%) ezetimibe + simvastatin-treated patients and for 17/22 (77%) simvastatin-treated patients. The most commonly reported AEs in the simvastatin treatment group were hypertension, gastro-esophageal reflux, and musculoskeletal pain (each reported by 3/22 [14%] patients); and in the ezetimibe + simvastatin group were upper respiratory tract infection (16/87 [18%]), arthralgia and musculoskeletal pain (both reported by 10/87 [11%] patients). Drug-related AEs were reported for 3/22 (14%) simvastatin-treated patients and 21/87 (24%) patients in the coadministration group. AEs considered serious by the investigator were reported by 2/22 (9%) patients taking simvastatin monotherapy and by 20/87 (23%) patients taking ezetimibe + simvastatin. Discontinuations due to AEs occurred in no patients taking simvastatin monotherapy and in 7/87 (8%) patients taking ezetimibe + simvastatin. Percent change ± standard deviation from baseline in LDL-C was −29% ± 15.4 and −44% ± 14.2 in subjects taking simvastatin monotherapy and ezetimibe + simvastatin, respectively.

Conclusions: Ezetimibe coadministered with simvastatin was generally well-tolerated and no new safety concerns were raised. Both treatments effectively maintained improvements in lipid parameters throughout the course of the studies. Interpretation of these results was limited by the small convenience sample included in the trial.

Key words: :

• Ezetimibe
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitor
• Hypercholesterolemia
• Safety
• Simvastatin

Acknowledgements

Declaration of interest: The study was funded by Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals, North Wales, PA, USA. J.S., B.Y., and E.P.V. are employees of Schering-Plough Research Institute and may own stock and/or hold stock options in the Company. M.E.H. is an employee of Merck & Co. and may own stock and/or hold stock options in the Company. Sheila Erespe of Merck provided editorial assistance on the manuscript but did not meet all criteria for authorship.