[e-drug] Why is lovastatin not registered in UK? (3)

["Leo Offerhaus" <offerhausl@euronet.nl>]

E-DRUG: Why is lovastatin not registered in UK? (3)
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Dear Dr.Ruwan Chandana,

Good question! 

Lovastatin = mevinolin is no longer commercially attractive. The US patent dates back to 1980 and initially there have been some differences of opinion with the Japanese inventor, Endo, about who held the original rights on the patent. 

Apparently Merck chose the option of withdrawing the drug from the Western market and replace it with one of their newer me-too's [simvastatine? WB]. 
But there is no scientific argument against using the drug where it is still available. 

One has to dig far back for the clinical literature, but there is excellent evidence (e.g., Tobert, Circulation 1987;76:534-8; Am J Cardiol 1988;62:28J-34J). I have often wondered why industries in developing countries have not restarted the production. As it is no longer registered in Western countries there is no competition. Merck probably withdrew their license, but I don't know the intrinsic details.

regards

Dr.Leo Offerhaus
Koedijklaan 1a
1406 KW Bussum, 
the Netherlands