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Pharmaceutical industry

Vytorin Outperforms Crestor in New Study Amid Intensifying Competition in Cholesterol Treatment Market

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Competition in the cholesterol treatment market has reached a fever pitch as a new study reveals that Vytorin, a joint venture between Schering-Plough and Merck, excels over Crestor, AstraZeneca's rival drug, in cutting cholesterol levels. The study, presented at the International Symposium on Atherosclerosis in Rome, highlights the importance of a new class of cholesterol drugs called statins, which will come under generic competition in the US this week with the patent expiry of Merck's best-selling drug, Zocor. The findings suggest that Vytorin's superior cholesterol-cutting power may give it an edge over other competitors, including Lipitor, Pfizer's best-selling drug.

Key Takeaways:

  • Vytorin, a joint venture between Schering-Plough and Merck, has been found to be more effective than Crestor, AstraZeneca's rival drug, in cutting cholesterol levels, with a reduction of 56% compared to 52%.
  • The study, presented at the International Symposium on Atherosclerosis in Rome, also found that Vytorin achieved higher levels of high-risk patients reaching a key cholesterol goal compared to Crestor.
  • The results take on greater importance with the imminent patent expiry of Zocor, Merck's best-selling drug, which is expected to bring new generic competition to the market.
  • Vytorin's superior cholesterol-cutting power may give it an edge over other competitors, including Lipitor, Pfizer's best-selling drug.
  • The battle over cholesterol drugs is critical for Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Merck, and Schering-Plough, with Lipitor being the world's best-selling drug at $12 billion last year.
  • Pfizer's management has set aggressive sales growth targets for Lipitor, expecting at least $13 billion in sales this year.
  • Vytorin is the most important product for Schering-Plough and is also vital in Merck's attempt to return to profit growth next year after several disappointing years.

Statistics:

  • Vytorin reduced cholesterol levels by 56% compared to 52% for Crestor.
  • The study found that 75% of high-risk patients reached a key cholesterol goal with Vytorin compared to 65% with Crestor.
  • Zocor, Merck's best-selling drug, has annual sales of about $4 billion.
  • Lipitor is the world's best-selling drug, with sales of $12 billion last year.
  • Pfizer's management expects at least $13 billion in sales for Lipitor this year.

Sources:

  • "US public officials have recommended a 'lower-the-better' philosophy on LDL levels." - [Source not explicitly stated in the original text]
  • Vytorin, Crestor, and Lipitor are being compared in a new class of cholesterol drugs called statins. - [Source not explicitly stated in the original text]
  • The US patent for Zocor, Merck's best-selling drug, expires on Friday. - [Source not explicitly stated in the original text]
  • "Lipitor is the world's best-selling drug at $12bn last year, and Pfizer management has set aggressive sales growth targets expecting at least $13bn in sales this year." - [Source not explicitly stated in the original text]
  • "Vytorin is the most important product for Schering-Plough and is also vital in Merck's attempt to return to profit growth next year after several disappointing years." - [Source not explicitly stated in the original text]
  • "US public officials have recommended a 'lower-the-better' philosophy on LDL levels." - [Source not explicitly stated in the original text]
  • "A drug with superior cholesterol-cutting power could be viewed by some doctors as a better choice than a lower-priced, generic Zocor because of the chance that patients would hit favourable LDL goals." - [Source not explicitly stated in the original text]

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