FDA Investigates Possible Vytorin-Cancer Link (HealthDay)

By Ed Edelson HealthDay Reporter 2 minutes ago THURSDAY, Aug. 21 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. drug regulators said Thursday that they were investigating whether the cholesterol-lowering drug Vytorin might be linked to cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it has informed health-care professionals that the agency was investigating a report from the so-called Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis (SEAS) trial of a possible association between the use of Vytorin and an increased risk of a variety of cancers. Vytorin is a combination drug made up of the compounds simvastatin and ezetimibe that's designed to reduce levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and cut the risk of cardiovascular problems. It works by decreasing the production of cholesterol by the liver and inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the... [read full story]