Crestor Benefits Patients With No Heart Disease History: FDA

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The cholesterol-lowering drug Crestor reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke and death in patients with no history of heart disease, according to documents posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site.

But the review by FDA scientists also noted several safety concerns about the drug, including an increased risk of diabetes, the Associated Press reported.

The documents were posted in advance of a meeting next week by an FDA panel of outside experts. They'll make a recommendation on whether the FDA should approve drug maker AstraZeneca's application to allow broader use of Crestor.

An AstraZeneca study released last November found that patients with lower cholesterol and few heart risks could still benefit from taking Crestor, the AP reported