Abbott says its cholesterol combo drug proves safe

CHICAGO, March 31 (Reuters) - Abbott Laboratories Inc. (ABT.N) 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) Zocor, generically known as simvastatin, Pfizer's (PFE.N) Lipitor, or atorvastatin, and Astrazeneca's (AZN.L) 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. (Reporting by Debra Sherman, editing by Dave Zimmerman)