Rosuvastatin

(CC) Image: David E. Volk
Rosuvastatin, a class II statin.

Rosuvastatin, marketed as Crestor, is a class II statin used to treat high cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolemia), prevent heart attacks and strokes, and to diminish the formation of arterial plaque. It is a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor that decreases the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, a key chemical precursor of cholesterol. It is related to other class II statins such as fluvastatin and atorvastatin.

Its official chemical IUPAC name is (E,3R,5R)-7-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(methyl-methylsulfonylamino)-6-propan-2-ylpyrimidin-5-yl]-3,5-dihydroxyhept-6-enoic acid and its chemical formula is C₂₂H₂₈FN₃O₆S.