A randomized crossover study to evaluate LDL-cholesterol lowering effect of a generic product of simvastatin (Unison Company) compared to simvastatin (Zocor) in hypercholesterolemic subjects.
It is agreed that people with a high blood LDL-cholesterol level will have a higher risk of coronary heart disease (CAD) than those with low blood LDL-cholesterol level. Because of the present National Drug Strategy of Thailand, the promotion of "in-country production" of a generic drug has been established. Simvastatin is one of the drugs in this strategy. In this, the primary report of a randomized crossover study with washout period for a cholesterol lowering effect in a generic product of simvastatin (Unison company) which was compared to the original simvastatin (Zocor) hypercholesterolemic to the subjects were presented. Simvastatin used in this study were derived from two sources. The first group was the original product (Zocor), dosage 10 mg, Lot No IC4/36(N) from Merck Sharp & Dohme Company and the second group was a generic product, dosage 10 mg, Lot No T05/080 and T06/109 from Unison Company. All simvastatin tablets from the first and second sources were inserted into closed capsule of the same shape and called drug A and drug B, respectively. Both the physician in-charge and the subjects in this study were blinded for the content inside the capsule (Double blind). Thirty drug capsules were put into a sachet and distributed to the subject at each visit. The interval between each visit was 4 weeks. All subjects were asked to bring back the residual capsule within the sachet to the researcher at each visit in order to evaluate the subject's compliance. All subjects had physical examination and blood tests at each visit. Furthermore, all subjects were advised to practice diet control and regular in-take of the drug capsule daily after their evening meal. All 48 subjects were randomly allocated into 2 groups. This study was run as a randomized crossover study. After taking the drugs for the first 8 weeks, no statistically significant difference of blood LDL-cholesterol between the first and second group was detected. After a 4 week washout period, crossover and taking the drugs for the last 8 weeks, no statistically significant difference of blood LDL-cholesterol between the first and second group was detected. At the end of this study, comparing both groups by ANOVA crossover test, no statistically significant difference of blood LDL-cholesterol between the first and second group was detected.
Out-Patient Department, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Surin
S
Assawawitoontip
Viroj
V
Wiwanitkit
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D016568:Drugs, Generic; D019821:Simvastatin