[Posted 11/09/2011]
 
AUDIENCE: Family Practice, Cardiology, Pharmacy

ISSUE: FDA notified healthcare professionals the cholesterol-lowering medicine Trilipix (fenofibric acid) may not lower a patient's risk of having a heart attack or stroke. FDA reviewed the data from the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) Lipid trial. The ACCORD Lipid trial found no significant difference in the risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event between the group treated with fenofibrate plus simvastatin compared with simvastatin alone.

Information from the trial has been added to the Important Limitations of Use and Warnings and Precautions sections of the Trilipix physician label and to the patient Medication Guide.

BACKGROUND: Trilipix (fenofibric acid) was approved by FDA in 2008 to treat cholesterol in the blood by lowering the total amount of triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and increasing the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

RECOMMENDATION: Fenofibrate at a dose equivalent to 135 mg of Trilipix was not shown to reduce coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality in patients in two large randomized controlled trials of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus; healthcare professionals should consider the benefits and risks of Trilipix when deciding to prescribe the drug to patients, and counsel patients about those benefits and risks. 

Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:

• Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm
• Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

 
[11/09/2011 - Drug Safety Communication - FDA]
 

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