Study hints at 'super' cholesterol drug

NEW ORLEANS, March 26 (UPI) -- A remarkable 52-milligram decline in a form of blood fat occurred by combining cholesterol drugs simvastatin and fenofibrate, says a U.S. study.

Researchers at the 56th annual scientific sessions of the American College of Cardiology in New Orleans said that an even more robust response might be achieved with using higher doses of simvastatin.

A 20 milligram-dose of the drug sold as Zocor was used in the year-long trial among patients with diabetes, said Heidi May, an epidemiologist at LDS Hospital at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City.

"We saw a 52 milligram reduction from baseline in triglycerides when simvastatin was added to treatment," she told United Press International at her presentation.

May tested both drugs individually and in combination among 300 patients. The cholesterol-lowering of simvastatin was enhanced by about 10 mg when fenofibrate was co-administrated, while the cholesterol-lowering effects of fenofibrate was increased by 36 mg when simvastatin was added.

She told UPI that her trial is part of the process that could result in the development of a dual action treatment against cholesterol.