Efficacy of Fluvastatin and Fenofibrate in Comparison to Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome

Inclusion Criteria: * Written informed consent to participate in the study prior to any study procedures. * Male or female subjects, age between 18-75 years inclusive. * All women of child bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test * Metabolic Syndrome according to the International Diabetes Federation definition: * Low plasma HDL-C (Men \< 40 mg/dl ; Women \< 50 mg/dl ). * Elevated waist circumference (men ≥ 94 cm, women ≥ 80cm) * And one or more of the following criteria: * Triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/d.l * Raised blood pressure (DBP ≥ 85 mmHg and/or SBP ≥ 130mmHg ) or treated hypertension. * Fasting plasma glucose≥ 100mg/dl. * Previously diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Exclusion Criteria: * Dyslipidemia secondary to other causes such as nephrotic syndrome, autoimmune disease. * Type 1 diabetes. * HbA1c \> 9.5%. * Unexplained serum creatine phosphokinase \> 2 x Upper limit of normal. * History of myocardial infarction and/or cerebral stroke and/or unstable angina pectoris. * Known or suspected contraindications and warnings according to the country specific label for the investigational drugs. Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.