A historical perspective on the discovery of statins

• Published in: Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B Vol. 86; no. 5; pp. 484 - 493
• Main Author: ENDO, Akira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Japan Academy 2010
• Subjects: Animals; atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis - drug therapy; Atherosclerosis - epidemiology; Atherosclerosis - genetics; Atherosclerosis - metabolism; cholesterol; Cholesterol - biosynthesis; Cholesterol - metabolism; cholesterol-lowering agent; coronary heart disease; Drug Discovery - history; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - chemistry; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - history; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Review; statin
• ISSN: 0386-2208; 1349-2896
• DOI: 10.2183/pjab.86.484

Cholesterol is essential for the functioning of all human organs, but it is nevertheless the cause of coronary heart disease. Over the course of nearly a century of investigation, scientists have developed several lines of evidence that establish the causal connection between blood cholesterol, atherosclerosis, and coronary heart disease. Building on that knowledge, scientists and the pharmaceutical industry have successfully developed a remarkably effective class of drugs—the statins—that lower cholesterol levels in blood and reduce the frequency of heart attacks. (Communicated by Teruhiko BEPPU, M.J.A.)