Statins
Estatinas
- Date
- 1976-1987 · confidence high
- Place
- Sankyo, Tokyo, Japan (Endo, 1976); Merck, Rahway, United States (lovastatin, 1987)
- Credited to
- Akira Endo (compactin/mevastatin, Sankyo); Merck (lovastatin, first approved in 1987)
- People
- 👤 Akira Endō1933–2024
- Field
- Life & health
What it is
Drugs that inhibit cholesterol synthesis and reduce heart attacks and strokes. They are the most widely prescribed medicines in the world.
What it led to
- The fall in cardiovascular mortality in wealthy countries
- Preventive pharmacological medicine in healthy populations
- Pharmaceutical blockbusters (Lipitor) and the debate over overmedication
Built on
- Beta blocker (propranolol) and rational drug design1962-1964
- lipid hypothesis
- screening of fungal metabolites
Made possible
- primary cardiovascular prevention
- anti-PCSK9 drugs