Exclusives

Article from ‘The Star’ news,

Canada’s ban on direct-to-consumer drug advertising probably saved Canadians with high cholesterol and their drug plans $150 million in 2006 alone.

A new study comparing U.S. and Canada sales patterns of a controversial cholesterol lowering drug show the dramatic savings.

Canadian sales of the drug Ezetrol (ezetimibe) were four times lower than those rung up south of the border, where the drug’s manufacturers spent $200 million (U.S) advertising the drug to consumers in 2007.

Sales of ezetimibe, which is sold in the U.S. as ‘Zetia’ or combined with a ‘statin’ drug as ‘Vytorin’ are expected to drop after releasing the trial results showing the drug failed to slow atherosclerosis, the clogging of the arteries with fatty deposits.