SPARCL is a trial of over 4, 700 patients with a history of stroke or TIA 1-6 months before study entry. In addition patients must have no history of CHD and LDL-C levels between 100 and 190 mg/dL. The trial begain in 1998 and is expected to end next year after 540 primary endpoints have occurred. The primary endpoint is stroke, which makes this trial unique and a true point of differentiation for atorvastatin.
What you have seen today is that atorvastatin has dramatic effects in reducing the risk of stroke in patients with CHD and in patients with risk factors for CHD. The effect of atorvastatin appears to be greater than that observed in trials of other statins. Now I would like to turn to Victor who will talk about potential commercial opportunities in the stroke population.
