Efficacy and safety of a generic rosuvastatin in a real-world setting: prospective, observational clinical study in Lebanese patients

BACKGROUND: No published studies have assessed the efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin generics. OBJECTIVES: Primary objective to assess the safety and efficacy of a generic rosuvastatin in reducing plasma low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in Lebanese dyslipidemic patients. Changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and adverse effects were secondary objectives. DESIGN: Prospective, observational, non-comparative. SETTING: Multiple outpatient clinics in Lebanon. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Dyslipidemic patients requiring statin therapy were followed for 2 months after prescription of a generic rosuvastatin at the physician’s discretion. Efficacy and safety measurements were collected from medical records. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Efficacy was assessed based on the evaluation of mean and percent change in LDL-C between baseline and week 8 as well as the proportion of patients reaching target LDL-C levels. Safety was assessed based on the evaluation of the incidence of adverse events (AEs) during the study period. RESULTS: Two months after initiation of generic rosuvastatin, LDL-C levels in the 313 eligible patients who completed the study significantly decreased from 4.3 (0.8) mmol/L (168.2 [31.3] mg/dL) at baseline to 2.7 (0.7) mmol/L (105.9 [25.5] mg/dL) (P<.001). The mean percent change in LDL-C level was highest in subjects receiving generic rosuvastatin at a dose of 40 mg/day (−47.4%), followed by 20 mg/day (−36.8%), and 10 mg/day (−31.4%); 82.5% of patients reached the target LDL-C level as set by their physician at baseline. Thirteen patients (4%) reported six AEs during treatment: abdominal pain, headache, stomach ache, insomnia, musculoskeletal pain/myalgia and nausea. No clinically significant changes in serum creatinine, serum creatine kinase, or liver function tests were reported. One patient withdrew because of an adverse event. CONCLUSIONS: Generic rosuvastatin was efficacious and safe in reducing LDL-C levels and helping the majority of patients achieve LDL-C targets after a short treatment period. LIMITATIONS: The observational nature, and a control group, and the relatively short duration of follow-up limit the generalizability of results. The authors received fees for study activities at patient visits from an independent clinical research organization subcontracted by the sponsor.