Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence evaluation of two simvastatin 40 mg tablets (Simvast and Zocor) in healthy human volunteers

The pharmacokinetics of two brands of simvastatin 40 mg tablets were compared in 24 healthy human volunteers after a single oral dose in a randomized cross-over study, conducted at IPRC, Amman, Jordan. Reference (Zocor, MSD, Netherlands) and test (Simvast, Julphar, UAE) products were administered to fasted volunteers; blood samples were collected at specified time intervals, plasma separated and analyzed for simvastatin and its active metabolite (beta-hydoxy acid) using a validated LC-MS/MS method at Cartesius Analytical Unit, Institute of Biomedical Sciences - USP, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The pharmacokinetic parameters AUC(0-t), AUC(0-variant), C(MAX), T(MAX), T(1/2) and elimination rate constant were determined from plasma concentration-time profile for both formulations and were compared statistically to evaluate bioequivalence between the two brands, using the statistical modules recommended by FDA. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) did not show any significant difference between the two formulations and 90% confidence intervals fell within the acceptable range for bioequivalence. Based on these statistical inferences it was concluded that the two brands exhibited comparable pharmacokinetic profiles and that Julphar's Simvast is bioequivalent to Zocor of MSD, Netherlands.     

辛伐他汀对老年高脂血症伴骨量减少病人骨代谢的干预研究

目的：探讨辛伐他汀对老年高脂血症伴骨量减少病人骨代谢的影响。方法：收集86例确诊为高脂血症的病人，随机分为试验组（49例）和对照组（ST例）。两组病人均给予相似饮食以及等剂量阿法骨化醇和复方氨基酸螯合钙，试验组在此基础上加用辛伐他汀40mg／d，疗程3个月。于用药前、用药后3个月分别采集静脉血测定骨代谢指标及检查骨密度。结果：试验组和对照组病人用药后总碱性磷酸酶（TAP）及骨源性碱性磷酸酶（BAP）均有明显升高（P〈0．01或P〈0．05），试验组TAP及BAP比对照组用药后升高更显著（P〈0．05）。试验组和对照组用药后尿脱氧吡啶啉与肌酐的比值、骨宽频超声衰减值差异均无统计学意义。结论：辛伐他汀短期内对骨形成的生化指标有促进作用，因时间较短，对骨吸收的生化指标和骨密度的影响尚无统计学意义，有待进一步研究。     

辛伐他汀改善大鼠心肌梗死后心室重塑与p-ERK1/2的关系

目的探讨辛伐他汀对大鼠心肌梗死后心室重塑的影响及其与磷酸化细胞外信号调节激酶1/2(p-ERK1/2)的关系。方法结扎Wistar大鼠冠状动脉左前降支建立心肌梗死模型,大鼠随机分为4组(n=8~10):心肌梗死对照组、辛伐他汀20、40mg处理组和假手术组。4wk后心脏超声检测各组心脏形态和功能,免疫组化法和Western blot检测p-ERK1/2表达。结果与假手术组相比,心肌梗死对照组及辛伐他汀处理组左室舒张末期内径(LVEDd)、左室后壁厚度(LVPWd)明显增加(P<0.01),左室射血分数(LVEF)、短轴缩短率(FS)、每博输出量(SV)和心输出量(CO)明显降低(P<0.01),心肌p-ERK1/2表达明显升高(P<0.01)。与心肌梗死对照组相比,辛伐他汀处理组LVEDd、LVPWd明显减少(P<0.01),LVEF、FS、SV和CO明显升高(P<0.01),心肌p-ERK1/2表达明显下降(P<0.01);其中辛伐他汀40mg组比20mg组心肌p-ERK1/2表达下降更明显(P<0.05)。结论辛伐他汀改善心肌梗死后心室重塑和心功能,其机制可能与下调心肌p-ERK1/2表达有关。     

辛伐他汀(舒降之)治疗原发性高胆固醇血症的临床比较研究

目的：比较国产辛伐他汀与进口辛伐他汀治疗原发性高胆固醇血症的疗效及安全性。方法：采用开放区组随机对照、多中心的临床设计。１５０例高胆 固醇血症病人分为验证组（５０例）、对照组（４８例）和开放组（５２例）,剂量均为每晚顿服１０ｍｇ,服药８周。结果：验证组与对照组服药前后比较,血清总胆 固醇（ＴＣ）分别降低２６．３６％和２８．３％,低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（ＬＤＬ－Ｃ）分别降低３３．１７％和３５．５１％;验     

辛伐他汀对新诊断糖耐量减低个体血脂、胰岛素抵抗及炎症因子影响

目的:比较辛伐他汀标准和强化治疗对新诊断糖耐量减低(IGT)病人血脂谱、胰岛素抵抗(IR)及血清炎症因子的影响。方法:106例伴有不同程度血脂异常的新诊断IGT病人随机分为2组:常规组54例,男性26例,女性28例,年龄(54±s6)a;强化组52例,男性27例,女性25例,年龄(52±6)a。在给予生活方式干预的同时常规组予辛伐他汀20mg·d~(-1),强化组予辛伐他汀40mg·d~(-1),均睡前服药,疗程为12 wk。比较治疗前后血脂、胰岛素抵抗指数(IRI)、及血清高敏C反应蛋白(HS—CRP)、纤维蛋白原(FIB)的变化。结果:2组治疗后三酰甘油(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、HS-CRP均明显降低(P<0.01),强化组的下降幅度大于常规组,差异非常显著(P<0.01)。强化组IRI和空腹胰岛素(FINS)治疗后亦降低(P<0.01),而常规组无显著变化(P>0.05),2组间有非常显著差异(P<0.01)。强化组不良反应发生率8%,常规组6%(P>0.05)。结论:对IGT合并血脂异常病人予他汀类药物治疗能有效改善血脂谱、减轻IR和炎症状态,并有良好的安全性。     

Simvastatin induces osteogenic differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells

Statins are potent inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis. Several statins are available with different molecular and pharmacokinetic properties. Simvastatin is more lipophilic than pravastatin and has a higher affinity to phospholipid membranes than atorvastatin, allowing its passive diffusion through the cell membrane. In vitro studies on bone marrow stromal cells, osteoblast‐like cells, and embryonic stem cells have shown statins to have cholesterol‐independent anabolic effects on bone metabolism; alas, statins were supplemented in osteogenic medium, which does not facilitate elucidation of their potential osteoinductive properties. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs), derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, are unique in that they enjoy perpetual self‐proliferation, are pluripotent, and are able to differentiate toward all the cellular lineages composing the body, including the osteogenic lineage. Consequently, ESCs represent a potentially potent cell source for future clinical cellular therapies of various bone diseases, even though there are several hurdles that still need to be overcome. Herein we demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, that simvastatin induces murine ESC (mESC) differentiation toward the osteogenic lineage in the absence of osteoinductive supplements. Specifically, we found that a simvastatin concentration in the micromolar range and higher was toxic to the cells and that an effective concentration for osteoinduction is 0.1 nM, as shown by increased alizarin red staining as well as increased osteocalcin and osetrix gene expression. These results suggest that in the future, lipophilic simvastatin may provide a novel pharmacologic agent for bone tissue engineering applications. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.     

Efficacy and safety of simvastatin (alone or in association with cholestyramine). A 1-year study in 66 patients with type II hyperlipoproteinaemia

The effects and safety of simvastatin, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, were investigated alone or in association with cholestyramine in 66 patients with hypercholesterolaemia, in a 1-year study. In type IIa hypercholesterolaemia (41 patients), the association was more effective than simvastatin used alone in lowering total cholesterol (37% vs 29%) and LDL-cholesterol (45% vs 37%). In type IIb hypercholesterolaemia (23 patients), the association simvastatin-cholestyramine did not appear more effective than simvastatin used alone. The decrease of apoprotein B was parallel to the LDL-cholesterol decrease. Apoprotein A1 did not change significantly. The long-term safety of simvastatin was good. No lens opacity was noted. The most serious side-effect in our study was myolysis which occurred in two patients with a marked increase in creatine phosphokinase.     

Effects of simvastatin on blood lipids, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10 levels and left ventricular function in humans

BACKGROUND: As statin therapy has been reported to reduce antioxidants such as vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 and there are indications that this reduction may cause impairment of left ventricular function (LVF), we studied the influence of simvastatin on LVF and serum vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 levels in humans. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We assessed the effect of simvastatin on left ventricular function and coenzyme Q10 levels in 21 (11 male, 10 female) hypercholesterolaemic subjects (mean age = 56 years) with normal LVF, over a period of 6 months. Subjects were re-tested after a 1-month wash-out period (7 months). Echocardiography was performed on all subjects before commencement of simvastatin (20 mg day(-1)), and at 1, 3, 6 and 7 months after initiation of treatment. Fasting blood samples were also collected at these intervals to assess lipids, apoproteins, vitamin E and coenzyme Q10. RESULTS: Serum lipids showed the expected reductions. Plasma vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 levels were reduced by 17 +/- 4% (P < 0.01) and 12 +/- 4% (P < 0.03) at 6 months. However, the coenzyme Q10/LDL-cholesterol ratio and vitamin E/LDL-cholesterol ratio increased significantly. Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) decreased transiently after 1 month, while no significant change was observed at 3 and 6 months. Other markers of left ventricular function did not change significantly at any time point. CONCLUSION: Despite reduced plasma vitamin E and coenzyme Q10, 20 mg of simvastatin therapy is associated with a significantly increased coenzyme Q10/LDL-cholesterol ratio and vitamin E/LDL-cholesterol ratio. Simvastatin treatment is not associated with impairment in left ventricular systolic or diastolic function in hypercholesterolaemic subjects after 6 months of treatment.     

Targeting cholesterol biosynthesis promotes anti-tumor immunity by inhibiting long noncoding RNA SNHG29-mediated YAP activation

1. Download : Download high-res image (242KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

An open-label comparison of the effects of simvastatin and niacin alone and combined on the lipid profile and lipoprotein (a) level in an Indian population with dyslipidemia

Abstract

Background:

Patients with dyslipidemia often require the use of >1 lipid-altering agent to achieve the target levels recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of simvastatin and niacin alone and combined on the lipid profile and lipoprotein (a) (Lp[a]) level in an Indian population with dyslipidemia.

Methods:

This 12-week, open-label, nonrandomized study was conducted at the Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine, Government Medical College, Amritsar (Punjab), India. Patients aged 30 to 70 years with dyslipidemia were eligible. Patients were assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups. Group 1 received simvastatin 20 mg/d for 12 weeks. Group 2 received niacin at doses of 375 mg/d for 1 week, 500 mg/d for 1 week, and 500 mg BID for 10 weeks. Group 3 received simvastatin 10 mg/d plus niacin (375 mg for 1 week and 500 mg for 11 weeks). The lipid profile (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], total cholesterol [TC], and triglycerides [TG]) and Lp(a) were measured before the start of therapy and at 6 and 12 weeks of treatment. Percentage changes from baseline were calculated. Adverse effects (AEs) were recorded at weeks 6 and 12 and through spontaneous reporting.

Results:

Ninety patients were enrolled (50 men, 40 women; 30 patients per treatment group). In group 1, the mean (SD) percentage decrease in LDL-C level at 12 weeks was 42.79% (16.29%) (P < 0.05), but no significant change was seen in group 2 or 3. The mean (SD) percentage increases in HDL-C level were 18.43% (13.28%) and 20.82% (17.57%) in groups 2 and 3, respectively (both, P < 0.05), but no significant change was seen in group 1. TC levels decreased by a mean (SD) of 32.97% (13.66%) in group 1 (P < 0.05), but no significant change was seen in group 2 or 3. TG and Lp(a) levels did not change significantly in any of the 3 treatment groups. Flushing, myalgia, and dyspepsia were the most common AEs in patients receiving niacin.

Conclusions:

In this study in Indian patients with dyslipidemia, simvastatin-niacin combination therapy was associated with greater changes in lipid profile compared with either agent used alone. Niacin was also associated with greater changes in Lp(a) levels. AEs were less prevalent with combination therapy than with niacin alone.Key words: dyslipidemia, simvastatin, niacin, combination therapy