Rosuvastatin, sold as Crestor, Rosulip and Zuvamor, belongs to the class of drugs known as statins. It is taken orally to inhibit the endogenous production of cholesterol in the liver. Statins do this by inhibiting the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. This enzyme is typically responsible for the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonic acid, the third and rate-limiting step of cholesterol, LDL and VLDL synthesis. Rosuvastatin has a similar structure to 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA, and acts to competitively inhibit the action of HMG-CoA reductase. Statins such as rosuvastatin are used to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease due to higher than normal levels of LDL ad VLDL, which are sometimes known as bad cholesterol. Cardiovascular disease can include heart attacks, angina, strokes and artery disease, and LDL and VLDL levels are a risk factor for its development. Because rosuvastatin is not highly metabolized by Cytochrome P450 enzymes and is taken up quickly due to its hydrophilicity, it has less drug interactions than other statins. It is also the most potent statin, meaning a smaller dose is required. However, it does not prevent CVD any better than other statins.

Rosuvastatin Pathway References

Steroid Biosynthesis References