AstraZeneca drug risk higher than others

The rate of serious muscle damage reported in patients who took AstraZeneca Plc’s cholesterol-lowering statin drug Crestor was six times higher than with similar medicines, a consumer group said on Thursday.

The findings by consumer group Public Citizen contradicted a statement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week that the risks of muscle injury from Crestor were similar to those of related drugs.

Public Citizen renewed its call for the FDA to immediately ban Crestor.

The rate of serious muscle damage reported in patients who took AstraZeneca Plc’s cholesterol-lowering statin drug Crestor was six times higher than with similar medicines, a consumer group said on Thursday.

The findings by consumer group Public Citizen contradicted a statement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week that the risks of muscle injury from Crestor were similar to those of related drugs.

Public Citizen renewed its call for the FDA to immediately ban Crestor.

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Provided by ArmMed Media
Revision date: July 3, 2011
Last revised: by Janet A. Staessen, MD, PhD