That is what is so appalling...how can they approve this when the results of lowering LDL on cardiac events isn't even known? Until 2017 or 2018.

Answer, most of the FDA budget is funded by private industry.
Dr Mercola may be somewhat extreme on some issues, but US citizens should realize in early 1990s we allowed the fox to guard the FDA henhouse.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/a...t-increase.aspx
And all drug companies need to do, to have a drug approved before efficacy is known, is to pay a substantial user fee plus in this case, an extra jump the line fee.