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Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Differential Effects of Lipid-lowering Drugs in Modulating Morphology of Cholesterol Particles
Published on: November 10, 2017
New evidence on pitavastatin: efficacy and safety in clinical studies
Tamio Teramoto1, Hitoshi Shimano, Koutaro Yokote
1Department of Internal Medicine, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. ttera@med.teikyo-u.ac.jp
Importance Of The Field:
Many clinical trials of pitavastatin have been done since its launch. New insights on pitavastatin from these trials are summarized and evaluated.
Areas Covered In This Review:
The results of clinical studies using pitavastatin, from 2008 to 2009, the LIVES study, the JAPAN-ACS study, the CHIBA study, the PIAT study and Phase III clinical trials in the West are reviewed.
What The Reader Will Gain:
In the LIVES study, pitavastatin showed significant and continuous elevation of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), as well as potential decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), in addition to long-term safety. Non-inferiority of pitavastatin against atorvastatin in the percentage change in plaque volume was proved in the JAPAN-ACS study. Also, comparable effects on LDL-C reduction rate of pitavastatin versus atorvastatin were confirmed in the CHIBA study and Phase III clinical trials in the West, and a greater increase in HDL-C was observed than with atorvastatin in the PIAT study.
Take Home Message:
Pitavastatin is a useful potent stain in raising HDL-C as well as in lowering of LDL-C, though a large-scale, clinical trial to confirm prevention of cardiovascular events is needed in the future.
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