Kos Pharmaceuticals has reported the results from its COMPELL (COMParative Effects on Lipid Levels of Niaspan and Statins Versus Other Lipid Therapies) Phase IV efficacy trial.
The results demonstrated that adding the HDL-boosting therapy Niaspan (niacin extended-release tablets) to statin therapy (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) achieved superior raising of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), or "good" cholesterol, and increased triglyceride lowering, with equivalent lowering of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), or "bad" cholesterol, for patients compared to treatment with a high dose statin or Zocor/Zetia (simvastatin and ezetimibe).