Merck's cholesterol drug wins European OK

Merck's cholesterol drug Tredaptive--known as Cordaptive in the U.S.--has won European approval. The 1g/20mg modified-release tablets are a new lipid-modifying therapy for patients with dyslipidemia and primary hypercholesterolemia. That approval comes despite the FDA's recent rejection of the therapy and expectations that the pharma company may have to wait for years before it can get approval to begin marketing in the U.S. There's no clear explanations why regulators are taking such varying stances.

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