Small molecule
PubChem CID 60823
Atorvastatin
Lipitor
- Mechanism of action
- HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor
- In plain language
- Blocks a liver enzyme involved in making cholesterol, which lowers “bad” LDL cholesterol and slightly raises “good” HDL cholesterol in the blood.
- How it works
- Atorvastatin selectively and competitively inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme that converts HMG-CoA to mevalonate, an early precursor in the cholesterol synthesis pathway. By blocking this step, the liver produces less cholesterol and compensates by increasing the number of LDL receptors on hepatocyte surfaces. These receptors pull more LDL particles out of the bloodstream for clearance, and hepatic LDL production also falls. The net effect is lower circulating LDL-C, apolipoprotein B, and triglycerides, along with a modest rise in HDL-C.
- Therapeutic applications
- Atorvastatin is indicated to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and revascularization procedures in adults with multiple cardiovascular risk factors, established coronary heart disease, or type 2 diabetes. It is also indicated as an adjunct to diet to lower elevated total cholesterol, LDL-C, apolipoprotein B, and triglycerides, and to raise HDL-C, in patients with primary hyperlipidemia (including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia), mixed dyslipidemia, primary dysbetalipoproteinemia, and hypertriglyceridemia, as well as in pediatric patients (10-17 years) with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
- Class
- Small molecule
- Therapeutic area
- Cardiovascular / Lipid
View
Related compounds
Also available combined as