IMPROVE-IT: Examining Outcomes in Subjects With Acute Coronary Syndrome: Vytorin (Ezetimibe/Simvastatin) vs Simvastatin (P04103)

NCT00202878 | Completed Phase 3 Results DMC

• 2 other identifiers: P04103MK-0653A-080
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 18,144
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This is a randomized, active-control, double-blind study of subjects with stabilized high-risk acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The primary objective is to evaluate the clinical benefit of Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Combination 10/40 (single tablet, under the brand VYTORIN in the United States) compared with Simvastatin 40 mg. As per the original protocol, if low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) response was inadequate, the dose of simvastatin in the VYTORIN arm or simvastatin arm, could be increased to 80 mg (Note: per June 2011 protocol amendment, criteria for continued use of 80 mg simvastatin were modified and new increases of simvastatin dose to 80 mg were stopped). Clinical benefit will be defined as the reduction in the risk of the occurrence of the composite endpoint of cardiovascular (CV) death, major coronary events, and stroke.

Conditions

Hypercholesterolemia; Myocardial Infarction

Keywords

hypercholesterolemia; myocardial infarction; cholesterol; randomized controlled trials; acute coronary syndrome; angina

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Time to First Occurrence of Cardiovascular Death, Major Coronary Event, or Non-fatal Stroke (Kaplan-Meier Estimate of Percentage of Participants Experiencing a Qualifying Event)

  The time (in months) from study start to the first occurrence of any of the following clinical outcomes was recorded: cardiovascular death, major coronary Event (non-fatal myocardial infarction \[MI\], documented unstable angina \[UA\] requiring hospitalization, or coronary revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) ≥ 30 days after randomization), or non-fatal Stroke. A Clinical Endpoints Committee (CEC) reviewed and adjudicated each suspected efficacy endpoint event while blinded to treatment. Participants who did not have any endpoint event until last visit or who were lost to follow-up and had no event were censored at the time of last available information (last study visit). The Kaplan-Meier estimate reports the percentage of participants who experienced cardiovascular death, major coronary event, or non-fatal stroke within 7 years from randomization.

  Up to approximately 9 years

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Time to First Occurrence of Death From Any Cause, Major Coronary Event, or Non-fatal Stroke (Kaplan-Meier Estimate of Percentage of Participants Experiencing a Qualifying Event)

  Up to approximately 9 years

• Time to First Occurrence of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Death, Non-fatal MI, or Urgent Coronary Revascularization With PCI or CABG ≥ 30 Days After Randomization (Kaplan-Meier Estimate of Percentage of Participants Experiencing a Qualifying Event)

  Up to approximately 9 years

• Time to First Occurrence of CV Death, Nonfatal MI, UA With Hospitalization, All Revascularization Occurring ≥30 Days After Randomization, and Non-fatal Stroke (Kaplan-Meier Estimate of Percentage of Participants Experiencing a Qualifying Event)

  Up to approximately 9 years

Study Arms (2)

ezetimibe/simvastatin

EXPERIMENTAL

One Ezetimibe 10 mg/simvastatin 40 mg combination tablet and two simvastatin 40 mg placebo tablets once per day.

Drug: ezetimibe/simvastatin; Drug: Placebo for simvastatin 40 mg

simvastatin

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

One simvastatin 40 mg tablet, one ezetimibe/simvastatin combination 10/40 placebo tablet and one simvastatin 40 mg placebo tablet once per day.

Drug: simvastatin; Drug: Placebo for simvastatin 40 mg; Drug: Placebo for ezetimibe 10 mg/simvastatin 40 mg combination

Interventions

ezetimibe/simvastatin DRUG

Ezetimibe/simvastatin 10/40 mg per day from randomization through the end of participation. As per the original protocol, if LDL-C response was inadequate, the dose of simvastatin in the VYTORIN arm or simvastatin arm, could be increased to 80 mg (Note: per June 2011 protocol amendment, criteria for continued use of 80 mg simvastatin were modified and new increases of simvastatin dose to 80 mg were stopped).

Also known as: Vytorin, Inegy

ezetimibe/simvastatin

simvastatin DRUG

Simvastatin 40 mg per day from randomization through the end of participation. As per the original protocol, if LDL-C response was inadequate, the dose of simvastatin in the VYTORIN arm or simvastatin arm, could be increased to 80 mg (Note: per June 2011 protocol amendment, criteria for continued use of 80 mg simvastatin were modified and new increases of simvastatin dose to 80 mg were stopped).

Also known as: Zocor

simvastatin

Placebo for simvastatin 40 mg DRUG

one or two tablets orally daily

ezetimibe/simvastatin; simvastatin

Placebo for ezetimibe 10 mg/simvastatin 40 mg combination DRUG

one tablet orally daily.

simvastatin

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Clinically stable participants may be eligible to enroll within 10 days following hospital admission with high-risk acute coronary syndrome (either ST-elevation myocardial infarction \[STEMI\] or Non-STEMI or unstable angina)
• Participants not taking a statin must have an LDL-C of 125 mg/dl or less. Participants taking a statin must have an LDL-C of 100 mg/dl or less.

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnant or lactating woman, or intending to become pregnant
• Participant with active liver disease or persistent unexplained serum transaminase elevation
• History of alcohol or drug abuse
• History of sensitivity to statin or ezetimibe
• A participant for whom discontinuation of existing lipid lowering regimen poses an unacceptable risk.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Organon and Co: lead

Related Publications (27)

• Blazing MA, Giugliano RP, Cannon CP, Musliner TA, Tershakovec AM, White JA, Reist C, McCagg A, Braunwald E, Califf RM. Evaluating cardiovascular event reduction with ezetimibe as an adjunct to simvastatin in 18,144 patients after acute coronary syndromes: final baseline characteristics of the IMPROVE-IT study population. Am Heart J. 2014 Aug;168(2):205-12.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2014.05.004. Epub 2014 May 15.

  PMID: 25066560 BACKGROUND

• Califf RM, Lokhnygina Y, Cannon CP, Stepanavage ME, McCabe CH, Musliner TA, Pasternak RC, Blazing MA, Giugliano RP, Harrington RA, Braunwald E. An update on the IMProved reduction of outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial (IMPROVE-IT) design. Am Heart J. 2010 May;159(5):705-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2010.03.004. Epub 2010 Mar 15. No abstract available.

  PMID: 20435175 BACKGROUND

• Cannon CP, Blazing MA, Giugliano RP, McCagg A, White JA, Theroux P, Darius H, Lewis BS, Ophuis TO, Jukema JW, De Ferrari GM, Ruzyllo W, De Lucca P, Im K, Bohula EA, Reist C, Wiviott SD, Tershakovec AM, Musliner TA, Braunwald E, Califf RM; IMPROVE-IT Investigators. Ezetimibe Added to Statin Therapy after Acute Coronary Syndromes. N Engl J Med. 2015 Jun 18;372(25):2387-97. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1410489. Epub 2015 Jun 3.

  PMID: 26039521 BACKGROUND

• Bohula EA, Giugliano RP, Cannon CP, Zhou J, Murphy SA, White JA, Tershakovec AM, Blazing MA, Braunwald E. Achievement of dual low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein targets more frequent with the addition of ezetimibe to simvastatin and associated with better outcomes in IMPROVE-IT. Circulation. 2015 Sep 29;132(13):1224-33. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.018381. Epub 2015 Sep 1.

  PMID: 26330412 RESULT

• Cheng Y, Zhai S, Zhong W, West RM, Shen J. Improving polygenic risk score based drug response prediction using transfer learning. NPJ Genom Med. 2025 Nov 21;10(1):74. doi: 10.1038/s41525-025-00528-x.

  PMID: 41271821 DERIVED

• Tunnicliffe DJ, Palmer SC, Cashmore BA, Saglimbene VM, Krishnasamy R, Lambert K, Johnson DW, Craig JC, Strippoli GF. HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) for people with chronic kidney disease not requiring dialysis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Nov 29;11(11):CD007784. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007784.pub3.

  PMID: 38018702 DERIVED

• Patel SM, Qamar A, Giugliano RP, Jarolim P, Marston NA, Park JG, Blazing MA, Cannon CP, Braunwald E, Morrow DA. Association of Serial High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T With Subsequent Cardiovascular Events in Patients Stabilized After Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Secondary Analysis From IMPROVE-IT. JAMA Cardiol. 2022 Dec 1;7(12):1199-1206. doi: 10.1001/jamacardio.2022.3627.

  PMID: 36260325 DERIVED

• Fordyce CB, Giugliano RP, Cannon CP, Roe MT, Sharma A, Page C, White JA, Lokhnygina Y, Braunwald E, Blazing MA. Cardiovascular Events and Long-Term Risk of Sudden Death Among Stabilized Patients After Acute Coronary Syndrome: Insights From IMPROVE-IT. J Am Heart Assoc. 2022 Feb 15;11(4):e022733. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.121.022733. Epub 2022 Feb 3.

  PMID: 35112882 DERIVED

• Oyama K, Giugliano RP, Blazing MA, Park JG, Tershakovec AM, Sabatine MS, Cannon CP, Braunwald E. Baseline Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Clinical Outcomes of Combining Ezetimibe With Statin Therapy in IMPROVE-IT. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021 Oct 12;78(15):1499-1507. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2021.08.011.

  PMID: 34620406 DERIVED

• Giugliano RP, Gencer B, Wiviott SD, Park JG, Fuchs CS, Goessling W, Musliner TA, Tershakovec AM, Blazing MA, Califf R, Cannon CP, Braunwald E. Prospective Evaluation of Malignancy in 17,708 Patients Randomized to Ezetimibe Versus Placebo: Analysis From IMPROVE-IT. JACC CardioOncol. 2020 Sep 15;2(3):385-396. doi: 10.1016/j.jaccao.2020.07.008. eCollection 2020 Sep.

  PMID: 34396246 DERIVED

• Nanna MG, Navar AM, Giugliano RP, White JA, Lokhnygina Y, Mitchel YB, Musliner TA, Cannon CP, Blazing MA. Muscle Complaints or Events in Patients Randomized to Simvastatin or Ezetimibe/Simvastatin. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Feb 25;75(7):835-837. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.12.022. No abstract available.

  PMID: 32081289 DERIVED

• Bach RG, Cannon CP, Giugliano RP, White JA, Lokhnygina Y, Bohula EA, Califf RM, Braunwald E, Blazing MA. Effect of Simvastatin-Ezetimibe Compared With Simvastatin Monotherapy After Acute Coronary Syndrome Among Patients 75 Years or Older: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Cardiol. 2019 Sep 1;4(9):846-854. doi: 10.1001/jamacardio.2019.2306.

  PMID: 31314050 DERIVED

• Sharma A, Sun JL, Lokhnygina Y, Roe MT, Ahmad T, Desai NR, Blazing MA. Patient Phenotypes, Cardiovascular Risk, and Ezetimibe Treatment in Patients After Acute Coronary Syndromes (from IMPROVE-IT). Am J Cardiol. 2019 Apr 15;123(8):1193-1201. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2019.01.034. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

  PMID: 30739657 DERIVED

• Navar AM, Roe MT, White JA, Cannon CP, Lokhnygina Y, Newby LK, Giugliano RP, Tershakovec AM, Braunwald E, Califf RM, Blazing MA. Medication Discontinuation in the IMPROVE-IT Trial. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2019 Jan;12(1):e005041. doi: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.118.005041.

  PMID: 30630361 DERIVED

• Bonaca MP, Gutierrez JA, Cannon C, Giugliano R, Blazing M, Park JG, White J, Tershakovec A, Braunwald E. Polyvascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and long-term vascular risk: a secondary analysis of the IMPROVE-IT trial. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2018 Dec;6(12):934-943. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(18)30290-0. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

  PMID: 30396865 DERIVED

• Simon TG, Corey KE, Cannon CP, Blazing M, Park JG, O'Donoghue ML, Chung RT, Giugliano RP. The nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) fibrosis score, cardiovascular risk stratification and a strategy for secondary prevention with ezetimibe. Int J Cardiol. 2018 Nov 1;270:245-252. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2018.05.087. Epub 2018 May 26.

  PMID: 29903515 DERIVED

• Giugliano RP, Cannon CP, Blazing MA, Nicolau JC, Corbalan R, Spinar J, Park JG, White JA, Bohula EA, Braunwald E; IMPROVE-IT (Improved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial) Investigators. Benefit of Adding Ezetimibe to Statin Therapy on Cardiovascular Outcomes and Safety in Patients With Versus Without Diabetes Mellitus: Results From IMPROVE-IT (Improved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial). Circulation. 2018 Apr 10;137(15):1571-1582. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.030950. Epub 2017 Dec 20.

  PMID: 29263150 DERIVED

• Kato ET, Cannon CP, Blazing MA, Bohula E, Guneri S, White JA, Murphy SA, Park JG, Braunwald E, Giugliano RP. Efficacy and Safety of Adding Ezetimibe to Statin Therapy Among Women and Men: Insight From IMPROVE-IT (Improved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial). J Am Heart Assoc. 2017 Nov 18;6(11):e006901. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.117.006901.

  PMID: 29151034 DERIVED

• Bohula EA, Wiviott SD, Giugliano RP, Blazing MA, Park JG, Murphy SA, White JA, Mach F, Van de Werf F, Dalby AJ, White HD, Tershakovec AM, Cannon CP, Braunwald E. Prevention of Stroke with the Addition of Ezetimibe to Statin Therapy in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome in IMPROVE-IT (Improved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial). Circulation. 2017 Dec 19;136(25):2440-2450. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.029095. Epub 2017 Sep 30.

  PMID: 28972004 DERIVED

• Pokharel Y, Chinnakondepalli K, Vilain K, Wang K, Mark DB, Davies G, Blazing MA, Giugliano RP, Braunwald E, Cannon CP, Cohen DJ, Magnuson EA. Impact of Ezetimibe on the Rate of Cardiovascular-Related Hospitalizations and Associated Costs Among Patients With a Recent Acute Coronary Syndrome: Results From the IMPROVE-IT Trial (Improved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial). Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2017 May;10(5):e003201. doi: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.116.003201.

  PMID: 28506979 DERIVED

• Giugliano RP, Wiviott SD, Blazing MA, De Ferrari GM, Park JG, Murphy SA, White JA, Tershakovec AM, Cannon CP, Braunwald E. Long-term Safety and Efficacy of Achieving Very Low Levels of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol : A Prespecified Analysis of the IMPROVE-IT Trial. JAMA Cardiol. 2017 May 1;2(5):547-555. doi: 10.1001/jamacardio.2017.0083.

  PMID: 28291866 DERIVED

• Bohula EA, Morrow DA, Giugliano RP, Blazing MA, He P, Park JG, Murphy SA, White JA, Kesaniemi YA, Pedersen TR, Brady AJ, Mitchel Y, Cannon CP, Braunwald E. Atherothrombotic Risk Stratification and Ezetimibe for Secondary Prevention. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017 Feb 28;69(8):911-921. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2016.11.070.

  PMID: 28231942 DERIVED

• Murphy SA, Cannon CP, Blazing MA, Giugliano RP, White JA, Lokhnygina Y, Reist C, Im K, Bohula EA, Isaza D, Lopez-Sendon J, Dellborg M, Kher U, Tershakovec AM, Braunwald E. Reduction in Total Cardiovascular Events With Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Post-Acute Coronary Syndrome: The IMPROVE-IT Trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2016 Feb 2;67(4):353-361. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2015.10.077.

  PMID: 26821621 DERIVED

• Azar RR, Badaoui G, Sarkis A, Azar M, Aydanian H, Harb S, Achkouty G, Kassab R. Effect of ezetimibe/atorvastatin combination on oxidized low density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients with coronary artery disease or coronary artery disease equivalent. Am J Cardiol. 2010 Jul 15;106(2):193-7. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2010.03.016.

  PMID: 20599002 DERIVED

• Cannon CP, Giugliano RP, Blazing MA, Harrington RA, Peterson JL, Sisk CM, Strony J, Musliner TA, McCabe CH, Veltri E, Braunwald E, Califf RM; IMPROVE-IT Investigators. Rationale and design of IMPROVE-IT (IMProved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial): comparison of ezetimbe/simvastatin versus simvastatin monotherapy on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Am Heart J. 2008 Nov;156(5):826-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2008.07.023. Epub 2008 Sep 2.

  PMID: 19061694 DERIVED

• Peto R, Emberson J, Landray M, Baigent C, Collins R, Clare R, Califf R. Analyses of cancer data from three ezetimibe trials. N Engl J Med. 2008 Sep 25;359(13):1357-66. doi: 10.1056/NEJMsa0806603. Epub 2008 Sep 2.

  PMID: 18765432 DERIVED

• Drazen JM, Jarcho JA, Morrissey S, Curfman GD. Cholesterol lowering and ezetimibe. N Engl J Med. 2008 Apr 3;358(14):1507-8. doi: 10.1056/NEJMe0801842. Epub 2008 Mar 30. No abstract available.

  PMID: 18376001 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Hypercholesterolemia; Myocardial Infarction; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angina Pectoris

Interventions

Ezetimibe, Simvastatin Drug Combination; Simvastatin; Ezetimibe

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hyperlipidemias; Dyslipidemias; Lipid Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Myocardial Ischemia; Heart Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Infarction; Ischemia; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Necrosis; Chest Pain; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Lovastatin; Naphthalenes; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic; Hydrocarbons; Organic Chemicals; Azetidines; Azetines; Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds; Polycyclic Compounds; Drug Combinations; Pharmaceutical Preparations

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Senior Vice President, Global Clinical Development
• Organization: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.

ClinicalTrialsDisclosure@merck.com

1-800-672-6372

Study Officials

• Medical Director

  Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restriction Type: OTHER
• Restrictive Agreement: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 3
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: INDUSTRY
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 13, 2005
• First Posted: September 20, 2005
• Study Start: October 17, 2005
• Primary Completion: September 18, 2014
• Study Completion: September 18, 2014
• Last Updated: June 18, 2024
• Results First Posted: September 30, 2015

Record last verified: 2022-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share