Since the first human trial of a hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitor in 1978, the growth in importance of this drug class, both financially and medically, has been staggering. The aim of this paper is to summarise how this drug class was developed, highlighting the role of Akira Endo.
MayorS.NICE calls for wider use of statins. BMJ 2006;332:256. doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7536.256-d
2.
WoloshinSSchwartzLMKerinK Estimating the impact of adding C-reactive protein as a criterion for lipid lowering treatment in the United States. J Gen Intern Med 2007; 22:197–204. doi:10.1007/s11606-006-0033-z
3.
SteinbergD.The statins in preventive cardiology. N Engl J Med 2008; 359:1426–7. doi:10.1056/NEJMp0806479
4.
EndoA.The discovery and development of HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors. J Lipid Res1992; 33:1569–82.
5.
EndoA.A gift from nature: the birth of the statins. Nat Med 2008; 14:1050–2. doi:10.1038/nm1008-1050
6.
EndoA.The origin of statins. Atheroscler Suppl 2004; 5:125–30. doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosissup.2004.08.033
7.
GoldfarbSPitotHC.Improved assay of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase. J Lipid Res1971; 12:512–5.
8.
StosselTP.The discovery of statins. Cell 2008; 134:903–5. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2008.09.008
9.
TobertJA.Lovastatin and beyond: the history of HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2003; 2:517–26. doi:10.1038/nrd1112
10.
YamamotoASudoHEndoA. Therapeutic effects of ML-236B in primary hypercholesterolaemia. Atherosclerosis 1980; 35:259–66. doi:10.1016/0021-9150(80)90124-0
11.
EndoA.Monacolin K, a new hypercholesterolemic agent produced by Monascus species. J Antibiot (Tokyo)1979; 32:852–4.
12.
DavignonJ.Beneficial cardiovascular pleiotropic effects of statins. Circulation 2004; 109:39–43. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.0000131517.20177.5a
13.
FalagasMEMakrisGCMatthaiouDK Statins for infection and sepsis: a systematic review of the clinical evidence. J Antimicrob Chemother 2008; 61:774–85. doi:10.1093/jac/dkn019
14.
BlamounAIBattyGNDeBariVA Statins may reduce episodes of exacerbation and the requirement for intubation in patients with COPD: evidence from a retrospective cohort study. Int J Clin Pract 2008; 62:1373–8. doi:10.1111/j.1742-1241.2008.01731.x
15.
ThompsonGR.Lasker award for the discoverer of statins. Br J Cardiol2008; 15:294–5.
16.
Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study Group. Randomised trial of cholesterol lowering in 4444 patients with coronary heart disease: The Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S). Lancet1994; 344:1383–9.
17.
The West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study Group. Prevention of coronary heart diesease with pravastatin in men with hypercholesterolemia. N Engl J Med 1995; 333:1301–7. doi:10.1056/NEJM199511163332001
18.
The West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study Group. Longterm follow-up of the West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study. N Engl J Med 2007; 357:1477–86. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa065994
19.
SwantonRH.The National Service Framework: six years on. Heart 2006; 92:291–2. doi:10.1136/hrt.2005.066043
