Ezetimibe Plus Simvastatin Versus Simvastatin in Untreated Subjects With High Cholesterol (P03435)

SCH 58235: A Multicenter, Randomised, Parallel Groups, Placebo-Controlled Study Comparing The Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability Of The Daily Co-Administration of Ezetimibe 10 mg With Simvastatin 20 mg vs Ezetimibe Placebo With Simvastatin 20 mg in Untreated Subjects With Primary Hypercholesterolaemia And Coronary Heart Disease (Protocol P03435)

This study will assess whether co-administration of ezetimibe 10 mg with simvastatin 20 mg will be more effective than treatment with simvastatin 20 mg alone in reducing LDL-C concentrations when administered for 6 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• >=18 years and <= 75 years of age
• LDL-C concentration >= 3.3 mmol/L (130 mg/dL) to <= 4.9 mmol/L (190 mg/dL) at baseline.
• Triglyceride concentration <3.99 mmol/L (350 mg/dL) at baseline.
• Documented coronary heart disease (CHD), which will include one or more of the following features: documented stable angina (with evidence of ischemia on exercise testing); history of MI; history of PCI (primarily PTCA with or without stent replacement); symptomatic peripheral vascular disease; documented history of atherothrombotic cerebrovascular disease; and/or documented history of non-Q wave MI.
• Stable weight history for at least 4 weeks prior to entry into study at baseline.
• Female subjects of childbearing potential must be using an acceptable method of birth control or be surgically sterilized.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Body mass index (BMI) >=35 kg/m^2 at baseline.
• Subjects whose liver transaminases (ALT, AST) are >1.5 times the upper limit of normal and with active liver diseases at baseline.
• Subjects with evidence of current myopathy (including subjects with CK>1.5 times above the upper limit of normal) at baseline.
• Subjects with clinical laboratory tests (CBC, blood chemistries, urinalysis) outside the normal range that are clinically acceptable to the investigator at baseline.
• Subjects with Type II diabetes mellitus who are poorly controlled (HbA1c>9%) or newly diagnosed (within 3 months) or who have had a change in anti-diabetic therapy within 3 months of baseline.
• Subjects with Type I diabetes mellitus who have not been on a stable insulin regimen for 3 months prior to baseline, or who have a recent history of repeated hypoglycaemia or unstable glycaemic control.
• Subjects who have known hypersensitivity to HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.
• Female subjects who consume >14 units and male subjects who consume >21 units of alcohol per week.
• Female subjects who are pregnant or breast feeding.
• Subjects who have not observed the designated washout periods for any of the prohibited medications.