Crestor Delivers Latest LDL-C Targets in High-Risk Patients at Lower Doses than Other Statins

London (ots/PRNewswire) -

Results presented from new VOYAGER
sub-analysis

This release is INTENDED EXCLUSIVELY FOR EUROPEAN
media

AstraZeneca today announced the results of a sub-analysis from
the VOYAGER individual patient data meta-analysis, which suggests
that achieving an LDL-C goal of <70 mg/dL or >50% reduction in LDL-C
levels in patients at high risk requires aggressive statin therapy.
These goals reflect the latest European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
and European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) Guidelines for the
Management of Dyslipidaemias. Results showed that a significantly
greater percentage of patients achieved this goal with CRESTOR(TM)
(rosuvastatin) than with equal or double doses of atorvastatin
(Lipitor(R)) or simvastatin. These findings were presented at the
2012 International Symposium on Atherosclerosis in Sydney, Australia.

This sub-analysis was designed to determine the percentage of
high-risk patients treated with rosuvastatin 10-40 mg, atorvastatin
10-80 mg or simvastatin 10-80 mg who achieved this recommended LDL-C
goal. Additional findings from the VOYAGER sub-analysis included:

- As statin dose increased, a higher percentage of patients achieved LDL-C
<70 mg/dL or >50% LDL-C reduction.
- Statistically significant differences (all p<0.001)were observed across a
range of statin therapy comparisons, including:
- Rosuvastatin 10mg vs atorvastatin 10-20mg and simvastatin 10-20mg
- Rosuvastatin 20mg vs atorvastatin 20-40mg and simvastatin 20-80mg
- Rosuvastatin 40mg vs atorvastatin 40-80mg and simvastatin 40-80mg

Percentage of high-risk patients achieving LDL-C goal

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20120326/521032 )

"These data reinforce CRESTOR as an important medication that
helps get high-risk patients to recommended treatment targets" said
Russ Esterline, VP Global Product Development Cardiovascular,
AstraZeneca. "Additionally, these favourable results add to the
wealth of data that demonstrate CRESTOR is well positioned in the
market to remain a statin of choice for physicians treating patients
at increased-risk."

Guidelines continue to stress the importance of achieving
aggressive LDL-C treatment goals in higher risk patients and the
important role of statins in achieving these goals. Under the
recently updated ESC/EAS guidelines, target LDL-C goals have become
more stringent, particularly for patients with established
cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes and for other patients
classified as being at very high risk of a primary or secondary
cardiovascular event.The ESC/EAS guidelines recommend that clinicians
should aim for LDL-C levels below <3.0 mmol/L (~115 mg/dL) in
moderate risk patients, <2.5 mmol/L (~100 mg/dL) in high-risk
patients and <1.8 mmol/L (~70 mg/dL) and/or at least 50 percent
reduction in levels if this target cannot be reached in very
high-risk patients.

CRESTOR has been researched extensively for over 13 years,
including 120 clinical trials of more than 67,000 patients worldwide
from more than 55 countries.

NOTES TO EDITORS

VOYAGER (An indiVidual patient data meta-analysis Of statin
therapY in At risk Groups: Effects of Rosuvastatin, atorvastatin and
simvastatin) is a unique individual patient data meta-analysis of 32
258 patients from 37 randomised studies comparing the lipid modifying
effects of rosuvastatin with that of atorvastatin and simvastatin.
The patients include almost 9,000 with diabetes and over 15,000 with
atherosclerotic disease.

CRESTOR has now received regulatory approvals in over 109
countries. Worldwide, doctors have written nearly 330 million
prescriptions for CRESTOR.Data from clinical trials and real world
use shows that the safety profile for rosuvastatin is in line with
that of other marketed statins.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical
business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and
commercialisation of prescription medicines for gastrointestinal,
cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation, oncology
and infectious disease. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries
and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients
worldwide. For more information please visit:
http://www.astrazeneca.com

Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20120326/521032

ots Originaltext: AstraZeneca
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Contact:
For further information please contact: David Ginivan, Global
Communications Director, AstraZeneca, Telephone: +44(0)1625-516973,
Mobile:
+44(0)7775-412-619, david.ginivan@astrazeneca.com.