The new indication was based on results from a study called the JUPITER trial, which compared 8,901 patients who received Crestor for two years to the same number of patients who received a placebo. Patients who took Crestor experienced fewer cardiac events, including heart attacks and strokes, and underwent fewer procedures such as coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery to treat or revascularize their arteries.

High sensitivity C-reactive protein is a nonspecific indicator of inflammation, which is associated with the buildup of cholesterol and other fatty material in the coronary arteries.

Crestor is already approved for use in combination with diet and exercise to lower LDL cholesterol and a related substance known as triglycerides in patients with a high amount of these substances in their blood. The medication is also approved to slow the progression of atherosclerosis - a thickening of the artery wall due to the buildup of cholesterol and other fatty materials.

For more information: fda/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm199891.htm