I warned of this new cholestrol drug, Crestor, in August but it is great to read that one of the leading medical journals is taking a high-integrity, anti-drug stance. The Lancet slammed AstraZeneca over its marketing of Crestor, triggering a furious row with the company, which is relying on the cholesterol drug to drive future profits. The journal stated there was no reliable data to prove Crestor was safe and effective and that doctors should therefore "pause" before prescribing the cholesterol-lowering agent. Physicians must tell their patients the truth about this drug--that, compared with its competitors, it has an inferior evidence base supporting its safe use.
The Lancet October 25, 2003