Despite the data from the study having been released over a year ago, scientists analysing the Jupiter study into the cholesterol-lowing statin, Crestor, say that is could be of special benefit to women.
Last year Jupiter gathered data on thousands of people to see whether the statin drug could be beneficial for them. It was shown that Crestor reduced by 45% the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, bypass or dying from cardiovascular disease.
Now after studying information on the 6,801 women who took part in the trial they have discovered that while men taking part saw their risk of experiencing an adverse heart event reduced by 42% this jumped to 46% in women.
Presenting the new data at the American Heart Association meeting in Orlando, the director for AstraZeneca’s Director for Crestor Clinical Development, said that women had been underrepresented in clinical trials into statins and previously there had been limited evidence that women could benefit from statin therapy. He added that the Crestor study was the first to show a significant reduction in cardiovascular risk in women wth no previous history of heart disease.
At the moment, statins are some of the most widely-prescribed drugs on the market. There is fierce competition amongst the pharmaceutical companies as to which one their products achieves market dominance and doubtless Astra-Zeneca are hopeful that their research will give them the lead when it comes to marketing.