Sanofi, Regeneron say new cholesterol drug data positive

PARIS (Reuters) - Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals said on Tuesday that a study into their new cholesterol-lowering drug, Praluent, showed promising results. "In a new pooled analysis of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH) patients ... Praluent significantly reduced bad cholesterol," the French company said in a statement, referring to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). "This analysis included 1,257 HeFH patients, the largest group of HeFH patients ever studied in a Phase III program. At week 24, when the primary efficacy endpoint was assessed, patients treated with Praluent had an average 56 percent greater reduction in LDL-C compared to placebo." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Praluent in July but limited its approved use to patients with a hereditary form of the condition and those with cardiovascular disease. Praluent will compete with U.S. rival Amgen's Repatha. (Reporting by Matthias Blamont; Editing by James Regan)