A therapy that combines simvastatin with another drug called ezetimibe has been linked to slightly raised levels of cancer in an international study whose results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine this week. There was also concern raised in the study about the drugs effectiveness in delaying the progression of aortic valve disease.
Media round up
Radio New Zealand: Cholesterol lowering drug under scrutiny
The Telegraph: Cholesterol lowering drug ‘increases risk of cancer by 50 per cent
The Times: Patients advised to keep taking Inegy cholesterol therapy despite cancer link study
The Daily Express: Cholesterol pill linked to higher risk of cancer
The Daily Mirror: Specialist’s cancer fear over drug
Further information
NEJM Editorial: Ezetimibe and cancer – an uncertain association
NEJM Analysis of cancer data from three ezetimibe trials
US Food and Drug Administration statement
NHS comment: Behind the headlines, cholesterol lowering drug and cancer
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