Fluvastatin sodium

Fluvastatin sodium is a competitive inhibitor of hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonic acid. Fluvastatin markedly inhibits the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in iron (II)-supported peroxidation of liposomes with IC50 of 12 μM. Fluvastatin sodium inhibits vascular smooth muscle proliferation in vitro (IC50 = 70 nM) and exhibits antihypercholesterolemic and antioxidant activity in vivo. When fluvastatin was administered in a clinical trial to patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, LDL cholesterol levels were reduced by 27% after six weeks of treatment with a dose of 40 mg/kg twice a day compared to placebo. Fluvastatin sodium is antilipemic and is used to reduce plasma cholesterol levels and prevent cardiovascular disease. Fluvastatin is currently in a phase IV clinical trial in patients with Metabolic Syndrome.