Although lovastatin itself would not be protected by a patent, Andrx's delayed-release formulation would.

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The products that will have these label changes include Lipitor (atorvastatin), Mevacor (lovastatin), Crestor (rosuvastatin) and Zocor (simvastatin).

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The use of lovastatin also reduced the first incidence of heart attack or chest pain by 37 percent.

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That's good news for Andrx, which hopes to sell its delayed-release lovastatin as a new drug under the brand name Altocor.

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Off the bat, lovastatin is extremely good at getting into the brain.

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There also will be a label change specific to lovastatin (Mevacor).

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With weaker statins, such as Pravachol from Bristol-Myers Squibb (nyse: BMY - news - people ) or lovastatin, available as a cheap generic, that requires the second-highest dose.

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Researchers at Cornell University tested the drug lovastatin, made by Merck Co. as Mevecor, on 6, 505 men and women who showed no signs of heart disease and had "average" cholesterol levels.

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Friedhoff and Buxbaum have shown two things: First, they showed that lovastatin could prevent cells from making beta amyloid in the test tube in doses that could be realistically given to patients.

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The types of medications that are particularly concerning include a class of medications called statins that help to lower cholesterol (simvastatin, atorvastatin, lovastatin), as well as some medications to treat heart ailments, cancer, and certain antibiotics.

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