In the battle of the cholesterol meds, Crestor just got a new weapon. The FDA approved AstraZeneca's application to market the drug not just for lowering cholesterol, but to treat hardening of the arteries, too. It's the first statin to win approval for that indication.

It's an important coup for AstraZeneca, which has been looking for an edge for Crestor--a late entry onto the statin field. As you know, those efforts were compromised earlier this week by research showing the drug didn't alleviate heart failure [1]. And last week, AstraZeneca announced it was facing a generic challenge to Crestor's patents.

- check out the release [2] from AstraZeneca
- read the report [3] from The Times

Related Articles:
AZ's Crestor flubs key heart failure trial. Report [4]
AZ hit with Crestor patent challenge. Report [5]
Crestor less safe than competing statins. Report [6]
Top 5 layoffs of 2007--AstraZeneca. Report [7]