Breaking News from The Globe and Mail

Liptor OK'd for diabetics

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

KIRKLAND, Que. — Health Canada has approved global drug giant Pfizer Inc.'s cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor for use in Canada.

The drug is used to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension who do not have clinically evident coronary heart disease but with other risk factors.

The approval was based on the findings of a diabetes study of more than 2,800 patients with Type 2 diabetes, no history of heart disease and relatively-low levels of cholesterol that showed patients who took Lipitor had a 37 per cent reduction in major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and stroke, Pfizer said in a statement.

The company, which has its Canadian headquarters in Kirkland, Que., said 48 per cent fewer Lipitor-treated patients experienced strokes compared to those who received a placebo.