Cholesterol Drug Controversy Continues

(Page 3)

His journal paper noted that use of statins remained constant in Canada but has declined in the United States as use of Vytorin rose.

"We did not push statins to the maximum," Krumholz said. "That is definitely the wrong thing to do."

Meanwhile, AstraZeneca PLC, the maker of a competing drug known as Crestor, released some news of its own Monday. It announced that it was stopping a trial of Crestor because of "unequivocal" evidence that the statin was better than a placebo. Vytorin's troubles could help boost Crestor sales even more, according to Bloomberg News.

More information

The various kinds of cholesterol and what can be done about them are described by the American Heart Association.