The same could be said for the combination of niacin and a flush blocker in Cordaptive.
After all, niacin is a vitamin and had been used in millions of people.
But use of niacin is limited by flushing that prevents many patients from taking it.
The promise of niacin, which can raise HDL by as much as 26%, is long established.
Niacin was always known to raise good cholesterol and appears also to prevent heart attacks.
He said the majority of niacin patients in the US have LDL levels over 70.
He said it was still possible that niacin could be found beneficial in this group.
HPS2-THRIVE, most agreed, would provide a more definitive test of the effect of niacin.
FORBES: HPS2-THRIVE: No Benefit, Signal Of Harm For Niacin Therapy
In particular, dermatological effects such as itching, rashes and intense flushing are often seen with niacin.
FORBES: Will Merck's Failure With Tredaptive Impact How Drugs Are Approved in Europe?
Some studies decades ago suggested that niacin might reduce the risk of heart disease.
Niacin is a vitamin that can raise the level of HDL cholesterol (the good type).
The billion dollars in health care spending on niacin might be better directed elsewhere.
For patients and doctors, the results should add to doubts about the benefits of niacin.
Cardiologists say the result is likely to mean that the use of niacin will plummet.
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The result is likely to dramatically reduce the use of niacin, already on the wane.
FORBES: Why Merck's Niacin Failure Will Scare Drug Researchers
Tredaptive included niacin, a statin and another drug meant to reduce the flushing side effect of niacin.
Instead, Taylor argues that adding Niaspan, a delayed release niacin made by Kos, cut heart attacks further.
It appears likely that the results of HPS2-THRIVE will also impact the use of existing niacin products.
FORBES: HPS2-THRIVE: No Benefit, Signal Of Harm For Niacin Therapy
One possibility is that niacin works, but that the flush-blocker Merck paired it with undermined its efficacy.
FORBES: Why Merck's Niacin Failure Will Scare Drug Researchers
Low levels can be treated with drugs, particularly versions of the B-vitamin niacin including Niaspan, from Abbott Laboratories.
First, better toleration of niacin would greatly expand the number of people who could benefit from this drug.
And last year, National Institutes of Health-funded research showed niacin didn't improve results for patients already taking statins.
Dr. Plutzky says he is disappointed by the failure of niacin in recent trials, especially given its promise.
Basically, niacin is one of the few compounds known to raise HDL, the so-called good cholesterol, albeit modestly.
FORBES: Will Merck's Failure With Tredaptive Impact How Drugs Are Approved in Europe?
Existing treatments such as niacin elevate HDL only 25% or so and carry annoying side effects such as flushing.
For niacin, used to raise HDL, and for fish oil pills its 10, 000.
That drug, Niaspan, took over the Niacin market and made Jaharis a billionaire even before he sold to Abbott.
Also on tap, a new form of niacin, the only drug now available to raise HDL (the good cholesterol).
This study provides the basis for the use of niacin in cardiovascular disease.
Niacin, a B vitamin, has been used for forty years to help millions of patients control their cholesterol levels.
FORBES: Why Merck's Niacin Failure Will Scare Drug Researchers
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