Rosuvastatin: achieving cholesterol targets.

The use of cholesterol targets in cardiovascular disease prevention means that we must have access to highly effective, well-tolerated drugs. Rosuvastatin is the most recently introduced member of the statin class and offers powerful low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol lowering accompanied by sustained high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol raising and triglyceride lowering. As the single most effective cholesterol-lowering drug, its use is associated with a higher percentage of patients achieving either the US or European cholesterol goals than with other single agents. Rosuvastatin has been shown to have a safety profile comparable with other marketed statins, particularly in terms of potential liver, muscle or kidney toxicity. A large ongoing program of clinical trials, several of which have morbidity or mortality endpoints, is underway.