Lovastatin acid is an active metabolite of hypolipidemic drug Lovastatin. Lovastatin acid inhibits HMG-CoA reductase. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, which is an early and rate limiting step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. Lovastatin has been shown to reduce both normal and elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Lovastatin in approved for prevention of cardiovascular events and hypercholesterolemia. Off-label use of lovastatin includes treatmetn of diabetic dyslipidemia, familial dysbetalipoproteinemia, familial combined hyperlipidemia, or nephrotic hyperlipidemia. Lovastatin was tested in clinical trials agains radioation injury during therapy of prostate cancer.

Lovastatin acid is an active metabolite of hypolipidemic drug Lovastatin. Lovastatin acid inhibits HMG-CoA reductase. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, which is an early and rate limiting step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. Lovastatin has been shown to reduce both normal and elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Lovastatin in approved for prevention of cardiovascular events and hypercholesterolemia. Off-label use of lovastatin includes treatmetn of diabetic dyslipidemia, familial dysbetalipoproteinemia, familial combined hyperlipidemia, or nephrotic hyperlipidemia. Lovastatin was tested in clinical trials agains radioation injury during therapy of prostate cancer.

Mevinic acid is reversible competitive inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase (Ki in the range of 0.2-1 nM). Mevinic acid is a precursor of a Mevastatin (mevinic acid lactone) -- a hypolipidemic agent that belongs to the statins class. Mevastatin inactive until metabolized in the liver to the open-ring hydroxy acid (Mevinic acid). Mevastatin might be considered the first statin drug; clinical trials on mevastatin were performed in the late 1970s in Japan, but it was never marketed.