Pitavastatin is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor used to lower lipid levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease including myocardial infarction and stroke. Pitavastatin, also known as the brand name product Livalo, is a lipid-lowering drug belonging to the statin class of medications.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 3 references
Pitavastatin is a statin medication and a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A) reductase, which catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, an early rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis. Pitavastatin acts primarily in the liver, where decreased hepatic cholesterol concentrations stimulate the upregulation of hepatic low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors which increase hepatic uptake of LDL, thereby reducing circulating LDL-C levels.
In vitro and in vivo animal studies also demonstrate that statins exert vasculoprotective effects independent of their lipid-lowering properties, also known as the pleiotropic effects of statins. This includes improvement in endothelial function, enhanced stability of atherosclerotic plaques, reduced oxidative stress and inflammation, and inhibition of the thrombogenic response.
Statins have also been found to bind allosterically to β2 integrin function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), which plays an important role in leukocyte trafficking and in T cell activation.
- Primary indication
- Pitavastatin is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia to reduce elevated total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein B (Apo B), triglycerides (TG), and to increase high-density...Curator reviewed · 13 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C25H24FNO4 · 421.4608 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- United States, 2010
- Code names
- JW0101 · NK-104 · NKS-104
- Brand names
Resolves to
VGYFMXBACGZSIL-MCBHFWOFSA-NSMILESO[C@H](C[C@H](O)\C=C\C1=C(N=C2C=CC=CC2=C1C1=CC=C(F)C=C1)C1CC1)CC(O)=OWhat you can answer from here — as of September 12, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Pitavastatin, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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