Pravastatin
Encyclopedia
Pravastatin is a member of the drug class of statin
s, used for lowering cholesterol
and preventing cardiovascular disease
. Initially known as CS-514, it was originally identified in a bacterium called Nocardia autotrophica by researchers of the Sankyo Pharma Inc.
. It is presently being marketed outside Japan
by the pharmaceutical company
Bristol-Myers Squibb
.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
approved generic pravastatin for sale in the United States
for the first time on April 24, 2006. Generic pravastatin sodium tablets are manufactured by TEVA Pharmaceuticals in Kfar Sava, Israel
.
and the prevention of cardiovascular disease
. It is recommended to be used only after other measures such as diet, exercise, and weight reduction have not improved cholesterol levels.
Statin
Statins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which plays a central role in the production of cholesterol in the liver. Increased cholesterol levels have been associated with cardiovascular diseases, and statins are therefore used in the...
s, used for lowering cholesterol
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a complex isoprenoid. Specifically, it is a waxy steroid of fat that is produced in the liver or intestines. It is used to produce hormones and cell membranes and is transported in the blood plasma of all mammals. It is an essential structural component of mammalian cell membranes...
and preventing cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
. Initially known as CS-514, it was originally identified in a bacterium called Nocardia autotrophica by researchers of the Sankyo Pharma Inc.
Daiichi Sankyo Co.
is a global pharmaceutical company and the second largest pharmaceutical company in Japan. It achieved JPY 970 billion in revenue in 2010 and is currently ranked number 17 in world sales. Its headquarter is based in Tokyo. The company also owns the American biotechnology company Plexxikon, the...
. It is presently being marketed outside Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
by the pharmaceutical company
Pharmaceutical company
The pharmaceutical industry develops, produces, and markets drugs licensed for use as medications. Pharmaceutical companies are allowed to deal in generic and/or brand medications and medical devices...
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb , often referred to as BMS, is a pharmaceutical company, headquartered in New York City. The company was formed in 1989, following the merger of its predecessors Bristol-Myers and the Squibb Corporation...
.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
approved generic pravastatin for sale in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for the first time on April 24, 2006. Generic pravastatin sodium tablets are manufactured by TEVA Pharmaceuticals in Kfar Sava, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Health effects
The primary uses of prevastatin is for the treatment of dyslipidemiaDyslipidemia
Dyslipidemia or dyslipidaemia is an abnormal amount of lipids in the blood. In developed countries, most dyslipidemias are hyperlipidemias; that is, an elevation of lipids in the blood, often due to diet and lifestyle. The prolonged elevation of insulin levels can lead to dyslipidemia...
and the prevention of cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
. It is recommended to be used only after other measures such as diet, exercise, and weight reduction have not improved cholesterol levels.