The beginning of the Statin Switch in UK
18 November 2003

The Statin Switch is a significant development as it is a new class of compound to be switched, the first Statin anywhere in the world. On 17th November the UK Government announced a nine-week consultation plan to determine whether a version of Zocor (simvastatin), should be available OTC.

Johnson & Johnson. MSD Consumer Pharmaceuticals is the applicant for the switch of ZOCOR® Heart-Pro 10mg tablets. Zocor Heart-Pro is intended to reduce the risk of a first major coronary event (non fatal Myocardial Infarction and Coronary Heart Disease deaths) in people who are likely to be at moderate risk of Coronary Heart Disease.
The consultation, by the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), will close on 16th January 2004. The results will be studied by the Committee for Safety of Medicines, which will advise Health Ministers.