Abbott says its cholesterol combo drug proves safe

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Abbott Laboratories Inc. (ABT.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said its new treatment aimed at cutting triglycerides and raising "good" HDL cholesterol proved safe and effective when taken alone or in combination with other cholesterol-lowering drugs in two studies.

Abbott's experimental drug, dubbed ABT-335, is the successor to the company's blockbuster TriCor medicine to control triglycerides, a type of blood fat which contributes to clogging of the arteries.

Abbott tested ABT-335 in combination with individual members of the popular statin family of cholesterol drugs, including Merck's (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Zocor, generically known as simvastatin, Pfizer's (PFE.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Lipitor, or atorvastatin, and Astrazeneca's (AZN.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Crestor, or rosuvastatin.

Abbott presented data at the American College of Cardiology meeting in Chicago from one study testing its drug with Zocor and the other with Lipitor.

"All of our studies met their endpoints (goals)," Dr. Jim Stolzenbach, a senior Abbott research executive, said in a telephone interview.

Patients who took Zocor with ABT-335 saw their triglycerides fall 37.4 percent, versus a 14.2 percent decline when Zocor was taken alone. HDL levels rose 17.8 percent when both drugs were used, compared with 7.2 percent taking the statin alone.

Among patients taking Lipitor with ABT-335, triglycerides dropped 45.6 percent, versus 16.5 percent when Lipitor was taken alone. There was a 14 percent increase in HDL when both drugs were taken, compared with a 6.3 percent increase when Lipitor was taken alone.

Results from a similar study combining Crestor with ABT-335 will be presented later this year.

Stolzenbach said the Crestor study produced results that were consistent with the Lipitor and Zocor studies.