(RTTNews) - Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK: News ) said that it is confident in the safety and efficacy profiles of Zetia and Vytorin for managing elevated cholesterol.

According to a 200-patient imaging study called ARBITER 6, Abbott Laboratories' (ABT) Niaspan appeared to be more effective and safer than Merck's Zetia as a secondary cholesterol treatment.

In response these results, Merck said, "The results of the small ARBITER 6 study do not, in any way, change our view of ZETIA and VYTORIN as effective medicines for fighting high LDL cholesterol."
Merck said that the results of ARBITER 6 were widely predicted because the study design favored niacin as the patient population selected had well-controlled LDL cholesterol and relatively low HDL cholesterol.

Also, it is important to remember that ARBITER 6 is not an outcomes study, and does not have the rigor or size to provide meaningful insight into the effect of either niacin or ezetimibe on clinical outcomes, the company added.

Click here to receive FREE breaking news email alerts for Merck & Co Inc. and others in your portfolio

by RTT Staff Writer

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com