Ezetimibe Plus Simvastatin Versus Simvastatin Alone in African-American Subjects With Primary Hypercholesterolemia (P03377)

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult African-American or Black subjects with diagnosis of primary hypercholesterolemia with plasma LDL-C \>=145 mg/dL and \<=250 mg/dL, and plasma TG \<=350 mg/dL * Postmenopausal women who are receiving postmenopausal hormonal therapy or raloxifene must be maintained on a stable HRT or raloxifene regimen for at least 6 weeks and throughout the study * Female subjects of non-childbearing potential * Willingness to give written consent, participate and complete all study-related procedures, and ability to follow a stable NCEP Step I (or stricter) diet regimen and keep a diet diary when required. * Clinical laboratory tests (CBC, blood chemistries, and urinalysis) within normal limits (except as noted below) or clinically acceptable. * ALT (SGPT) and AST (SGOT) concentrations \<=2 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and creatine phosphokinase \<=2 times the ULN. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy or any other situation, condition, or illness that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with optimal participation in the study * Secondary forms of hyperlipidemia or underlying disease likely to limit life span to less than one year * Known hypersensitivity or any contraindication to simvastatin or ezetimibe * Use of investigational drugs within 30 days of study entry * Concomitant illnesses: congestive heart failure NYHA Class III or IV; obstructive cardiomyopathy; uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias; severe aortic stenosis; MI, CABG or angioplasty within 3 months of study; unstable or severe peripheral artery disease; unstable angina pectoris; study-limiting disorders of the hematologic, digestive or central nervous systems including cerebrovascular disease and degenerative disease; uncontrolled or newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus; uncontrolled endocrine or metabolic disease known to influence serum lipids or lipoproteins (clinically euthyroid subjects on stable replacement doses of thyroid hormone are eligible for enrollment); uncontrolled hypertension; known impairment of renal function (plasma creatinine \>2.0 mg/dL), dysproteinemia, nephrotic syndrome or other renal disease (24-hour urinary protein 3+ or 1 gram); hepatobiliary or hepatic disease (AST or ALT \>2 times the upper limit of the reference range); HIV positive; known coagulopathy.