FDA considerations regarding new hypolipidemic agents.

Food and Drug Administration policy being considered for new marketed hypolipidemic agents includes: long-term safety to be demonstrated in postmarketing studies; evidence of clinical effectiveness to be demonstrated within a specified time period. Effectiveness is to be judged by one or more of the following: reduction in xanthomata, reduction atherosclerotic plaque, reduction in morbidity of coronary artery disease or peripheral and cerebral atherosclerosis, and reduction in mortality. Randomized double blind trials are deemed necessary.