Cholesterol Management Health Center

Zetia Niacin Tops in Cutting Artery Plaque

Study Shows an Older Drug Works Better Than a Newer Cholesterol-lowering Drug

By Charlene Laino

WebMD Health News Reviewed by Elizabeth Klodas, MD, FACC

Nov. 16, 2009 (Orlando, Fla..) - A prescription version of niacin beat out a blockbuster cholesterol-lowering drug in Slowing the buildup of plaque in artery walls, researchers report.

The study pitted extended-release niacin, Niaspan sold as, "Which works by boosting levels of HDL" good "cholesterol, against Ezetimibe. Ezetimibe, sold as Zetia, lowers levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol.

The findings are the second recent setback for Zetia. Last year, another study Showed that Vytorin, a combination of Zetia and Zocor, worked no better than Zocor alone.

More: http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/news/20091116/niacin-tops-zetia-in-cutting-artery-plaque