Abbott and AstraZeneca drug analysis shows improvement in key lipids

Abbott has announced the results of its phase III sub-group analysis of investigational TriLipix (ABT-335) used in combination with Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium) from AstraZeneca.

The firm reports that mixed dyslipidemia and type two diabetes patients receiving these drugs showed improved key lipids.

In data presented to annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association, diabetes patients exhibited similar improvements in LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

TriLipix is a novel fenofibric acid molecule in clinical development to treat patients with unhealthy lipid levels and has been submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration.

Eugene Sun, vice-president of global pharmaceutical clinical development at Abbott, said: “Abbott has built a robust clinical program to support TriLipix to provide physicians and patients with as much data as possible to help them evaluate this potential new therapy.”

He added that new therapy options are key as a large number of patients are not achieving their treatment goals for LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

In March 2008, Abbott announced to the American College of Cardiology that TriLipix used in combination with statins passed the primary endpoint of a phase III clinical trial.