Extended-release fluvastatin 80 mg shows greater efficacy, with comparable tolerability, versus immediate-release fluvastatin 40 mg for once daily treatment of primary hypercholesterolaemia

A new extended-release (XL) formulation of fluvastatin has been developed for once daily treatment of primary hypercholesterolaemia. This study was designed to determine the safety and effect of fluvastatin XL 80 mg on a range of lipid parameters compared with the immediate-release (IR) formulation of fluvastatin 40 mg. In a multicentre, double-blind study, 555 patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia (Fredrickson types IIa or IIb) were randomised to 24 weeks treatment with fluvastatin XL 80 mg or IR 40 mg, each given once daily at bedtime. The study found the least square mean reduction in LDL-C after 24 weeks treatment was 32.6% in the fluvastatin XL 80 mg group (n=312) and 23.9% in the fluvastatin IR 40 mg group (n=165), an 8.7% between-treatment difference (95% confidence interval: 6.5%, 10.9%) in favour of the XL formulation (p<0.001). A higher proportion of patients in the fluvastatin XL 80 mg group achieved ≥35% reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (42.3% vs. 13.3%). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were increased by 9.1% and 7.0%, respectively in the XL and IR groups; median triglyceride levels fell by 19% and 13%, respectively. Tolerability was comparable in the two groups, and there were no laboratory safety concerns. The study concluded that fluvastatin XL 80 mg once daily is safe as a starting dose and effectively lowers low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels in patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia.