Rosuvastatin

(CC) Image: David E. Volk
Rosuvastatin, a type II statin.

Rosuvastatin, marketed as Crestor, is a type II statin used to treat high cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolemia), prevent heart attacks and strokes, and to diminish the formation of arterial plaque. It is a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor that decreases the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, a key chemical precursor of cholesterol. It is related to other type II statins such as fluvastatin and atorvastatin.

Its official chemical IUPAC name is (E,3R,5R)-7-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(methyl-methylsulfonylamino)-6-propan-2-ylpyrimidin-5-yl]-3,5-dihydroxyhept-6-enoic acid and its chemical formula is C₂₂H₂₈FN₃O₆S.

History

Crestor brand of rosuvastatin was approved for Merck and Schering-Plough by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States of America with a New Drug Application (NDA) in 2003. A generic version of rosuvastatin calcium with a AB Therapeutic Equivalence Code was approved for Mylan Pharma with a Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) in 2010. A generic version of rosuvastatin zinc with a AB Therapeutic Equivalence Code was approved for Watson Labs with a Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) in 2011.

External links

The most up-to-date information about Rosuvastatin and other drugs can be found at the following sites.

• Rosuvastatin - FDA approved drug information (drug label) from DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
• Rosuvastatin - Drug information for consumers from MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
• Rosuvastatin - Detailed information from DrugBank.