Pfizer's Lipitor Gains Prevention Indication For Patients With Normal Cholesterol

The approval gives Pfizer a new indication to promote as Merck/Schering rolls out the Zocor/Zetia combination therapy Vytorin. Lipitor's new indication is based on results of the ASCOT study, which showed a 36% reduction in relative risk of heart attack in patients with normal to borderline cholesterol but high blood pressure and risk factors for heart disease.