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No plan to withdraw cholesterol drug

ABU DHABI — The health authorities in the country have no plan to withdraw the cholesterol-lowering drug, Inegy, from the market.

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Experts at Health Authority — Abu Dhabi (HAAD) will be meeting in September to take appropriate action, said Dr Mohammed Abuelkhair, Drugs and Medical Products Advisor at HAAD.

The United States Food and Drug and Administration (FDA) reported recently that it had received preliminary results of a study suggesting a link between the use of Inegy and cancer.

In its report, however, the FDA stated that it was not advising health professionals to discontinue the use of the drug.

Results from the study released on July 21, indicated that there was a significant increase in cancer among patients taking Inegy, which is a combination of two medications used to lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. The full study is yet to be reviewed.

Dr Wael Al Mahameed, President of the Emirates Cardiac Society, has lamented the fact that the media is publicising medical studies without verifying the facts.

"It is very unfortunate that the media is printing sensitive medical information without including all relevant information.

“This causes patients to panic, while it is not up to them to take medical decisions such as discontinuing their medication," he pointed out.

"Currently, I cannot make anything of this study because it hasn't been published and presented. We have to wait and see what the FDA says about it," added Dr Al Mahameed.

• UAE