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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Differential Effects of Lipid-lowering Drugs in Modulating Morphology of Cholesterol Particles

Differential Effects of Lipid-lowering Drugs in Modulating Morphology of Cholesterol Particles

Published on: November 10, 2017

The discovery of statins.

Thomas P Stossel¹

¹Translational Medicine Unit, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. tstossel@partners.org

|September 23, 2008

Summary

Akira Endo discovered statins from fungi, which inhibit liver cholesterol synthesis. These drugs significantly decrease illness and death from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Pharmacology
Medical Research

Background:

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide.
Effective strategies for cholesterol management are crucial for public health.
The liver plays a central role in cholesterol synthesis and regulation.

Observation:

Fungi were investigated as a source of novel therapeutic compounds.
Specific fungal metabolites demonstrated potent inhibitory activity against cholesterol synthesis.
Akira Endo successfully isolated and identified these compounds as statins.

Findings:

Statins were identified as potent inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase, a key enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis.
The isolation of statins from fungal sources provided a new class of cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Differential Effects of Lipid-lowering Drugs in Modulating Morphology of Cholesterol Particles

Differential Effects of Lipid-lowering Drugs in Modulating Morphology of Cholesterol Particles

Published on: November 10, 2017

This discovery paved the way for understanding and manipulating lipid metabolism.

Implications:

The clinical introduction of statins has dramatically reduced morbidity and mortality associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Statins represent a landmark achievement in clinical medical research, transforming cardiovascular disease prevention.
Further research into fungal metabolites continues to yield valuable therapeutic agents.