Prof Kim and colleagues recently published their non-inferiority, randomised, open label study in the Lancet online. Patients defined as at high risk of CV disease were randomly assigned to receive either rosuvastatin 10mg plus ezetimibe 10mg or monotherapy of rosuvastatin 20mg.

The primary endpoint was a composite of death due to cardiovascular causes, major CV events and non-fatal stroke within 3 years. Previous similar trials had a follow-up time of 24 weeks at most. The combination of ezetimibe plus rosuvastatin 10mg was found to be non-inferior to rosuvastatin 20mg.

The authors suggest that the 3-year efficacy and safety data could mean that the combination therapy option is useful as an earlier option in patients at risk of more severe statin adverse effects. This study was funded by a pharmaceutical company that has a product containing ezetimibe/rosuvastatin.

Find the full paper on the Science Direct website.