Simvastatin
635659
225612440
2008-07-14T15:36:21Z
Chuckwatson
2154414
/* Sales */
{{drugbox |
|width=171
|IUPAC_name = [(1''S'',3''R'',7''R'',8''S'',8''aR'')-8-[2-[(2''R'',4''R'')-4-hydroxy-6-<br />oxo-oxan-2-yl]ethyl]-3,7-dimethyl-1,2,3,7,8,8''a''<br />-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl]2,2-dimethylbutanoate
| image=Simvastatin.png
| CAS_number = 79902-63-9
| ATC_prefix=C10
| ATC_suffix=AA01
| PubChem=54454
| DrugBank=APRD00104
| C=25 | H=38 | O=5
| molecular_weight = 418.566 g/mol
| smiles = CCC(C)(C)C(=O)O[C@H]1C[C@@H](C)C=C2C=C[C@H](C)[C@H](CC[C@@H]3C[C@@H](O)CC(= O)O3)[C@@H]12
| bioavailability = 5%
| protein_bound = 95%
| metabolism = [[Hepatic]] ([[CYP3A4]])
| elimination_half-life = 3 hours
| excretion = [[Renal]] 13%, [[feces|faecal]] 60%
| pregnancy_AU = D
| pregnancy_US = X
| pregnancy_category =
| legal_AU = S4
| legal_UK = P
| legal_US = Rx-only
| legal_status =
| routes_of_administration = Oral
}}
'''Simvastatin''' ([[International Nonproprietary Name|INN]]) ({{pronEng|ˈsɪmvəstætɨn}}), (marketed under the trade names '''Zocor''', Simvastatin, Simlup, Simcard and others) is a [[hypolipidemic agent|hypolipidemic drug]] belonging to the class of pharmaceuticals called "[[statin]]s". It is used to control [[hypercholesterolemia]] (elevated [[cholesterol]] levels) and to prevent [[cardiovascular disease]]. Simvastatin is a synthetic derivate of a fermentation product of ''[[Aspergillus terreus]]''.
==History==
The development of simvastatin was closely linked with the research and development of [[Mevacor]]. Biochemist Jesse Huff and his colleagues at [[Merck & Co.|Merck]] began researching the biosynthesis of cholesterol in the early 1950s. In 1956, [[mevalonic acid]] was isolated from a yeast extract by [[Karl Folkers]], Carl Hoffman, and others at Merck; while Huff and his associates confirmed that mevalonic acid was an intermediate in cholesterol biosynthesis. In 1959, the [[HMG-CoA reductase]] enzyme (a major contributor of internal cholesterol production) was discovered by researchers at the [[Max Planck Institute]]. This discovery encouraged scientists worldwide to find an effective inhibitor of this enzyme.
By 1976, [[Akira Endo (biochemist)|Akira Endo]] had isolated the first inhibitor ([[Compactin]], ML-236B) from the [[fungus]], ''[[Penicillium|Penicillium citrinium]]'' in [[Sankyo]], [[Japan]].<ref>Liao and Laufs. Pleiotropic Effects of Statins.(2005) Annu. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol:45:89-118</ref> In 1979, Hoffman and colleagues isolated lovastatin from a strain of the fungus ''[[Aspergillus|Aspergillus terreus]]''. While developing and researching lovastatin, Merck scientists synthetically derived a more potent HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor from a fermentation product of ''Aspergillus terreus'', which was designated MK-733 (later to be named simvastatin).<!--
--><ref name = "preview">{{cite book | title=Innovation Management - Strategies, Implementation, and Profits | url=http://www-personal.umich.edu/~afuah/ | editor=Ed. Allan Afuah | year=1998 | publisher=Oxford University Press | author= Olivia Williams, Anne-Marie Jacks, Jim Davis, Sabrina Martinez |chapter=Case 10: Merck(A): Mevacor* | chapterurl=http://www-personal.umich.edu/~afuah/cases/case10.html | accessdate=2006-07-19}}</ref>
==Uses==
Simvastatin is a powerful lipid-lowering drug that can decrease [[low density lipoprotein]] (LDL) levels by up to 50%. It is used in doses of 5 [[milligram|mg]] up to 80 mg. Higher doses (160 mg) have been found to be too toxic, while giving only minimal benefit in terms of lipid lowering. There is no real effect on [[High density lipoprotein|HDL]] and [[triglyceride]] levels.
From recent research it has become apparent that simvastatin and other statins inhibit the progression of [[atherosclerosis]] beyond their effects on LDL. Many explanations have been proposed, for example its inhibitory effect on [[macrophage]]s in the [[atherosclerotic plaque]] lesions.
In one non-randomized study, simvastatin halved the risk of developing [[dementia]] or [[Parkinson's disease]].<ref>{{cite journal | last =Wolozin | first =B | coauthors =Wang SW, Li NC, Lee A, Lee TA, Kazis LE | title =Simvastatin is associated with a reduced incidence of dementia and Parkinson's disease | journal =BMC Medicine | volume =5 | pages =20 | date =[[July 19]] [[2007]] | doi =10.1186/1741-7015-5-20 | pmid =17640385 | accessdate =2007-09-24}}</ref>
== Rationing ==
Since its introduction, there has been a large debate surrounding the price for lipid-lowering treatment and its benefits on atherosclerosis. Although this has affected the other [[statin]]s as well, simvastatin was the first statin drug to be used extensively in clinical practice.
A number of large [[epidemiology|epidemiological]] studies were conducted to discover which patients would benefit most from statin drugs; most studies involve simvastatin as the study drug. The most influential studies were the [[Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study]] (4S) and the [[Heart protection study]] (HPS).
It has now become apparent that patients with one or more risk factors for [[cardiovascular disease]] (such as [[diabetes mellitus]], [[hypertension]] or a positive family history) can benefit from statins—even if they do not have substantially elevated cholesterol levels.
Simvastatin was introduced in the late 1980s, and in many countries it is now available as a generic preparation. This has led to a decrease of the price of most statin drugs, and a reappraisal of the health economics of preventive statin treatment.
In the UK, simvastatin (in a dose of 10 mg) has recently become available to purchase from pharmacies without prescription.
== Pharmacology ==
{{main|Statin}}
All statins act by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme of the [[HMG-CoA reductase pathway]], the [[metabolic pathway]] responsible for the endogenous production of [[cholesterol]].
The drug is in the form of an inactive lactone that is hydrolized after ingestion to produce the active agent.
It is a white, nonhygroscopic, crystalline powder that is practically insoluble in water, and freely soluble in chloroform, methanol and ethanol.
=== Interactions ===
[[Grapefruit]] contains the flavanones [[naringenin]] and [[bergamottin]], which inhibit the liver [[CYP3A4|cytochrome P450 3A4]]. This in turn slows metabolization of simvastatin and a large number of other drugs. Therefore, patients taking simvastatin should restrict their intake of grapefruit and grapefruit-containing products.
== Side effects ==
Common side effects (>1% incidence) may include abdominal pain, diarrhea, indigestion, and a general feeling of weakness. Rare side effects include joint pain, memory loss, and muscle cramps.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chealth.canoe.ca/drug_info_details.asp?channel_id=0&relation_id=0&brand_name_id=3499&page_no= |title=Gen-Simvastatin - Drug Factsheets - C-Health |accessdate=2007-08-15 |format= |work=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.healthyontario.com/Drugs/S_-_Drugs/Simvastatin.htm |title=Simvastatin |accessdate=2007-08-15 |format= |work=}}</ref>
== Marketing ==
[[Image:zocor.gif|frame|Zocor Logo]]
Reference: Drug Discovery Today editorial, 2005.<!--
--><ref name = "sales">Maggon, Krishan. "Best-selling human medicines 2002-2004 (editorial)". 2005. Drug Discovery Today, 10(11):739-742</ref>
Simvastatin was initially marketed by [[Merck & Co]] under the trade name '''Zocor''', but is now also available generically in most countries following the patent expiry. A combination of Simvastatin along with [[Ezetimibe]] is currently sold under the brand name [[Vytorin]] and is jointly marketed by Merck and [[Schering-Plough]].
Brand names: Zocor, Zocor Heart Pro, marketed by the [[pharmaceutical company]] [[Merck & Co.]] Simlup,Simvotin, Simcard [India] Denan (Germany), Liponorm, Sinvacor, Sivastin (Italy), Lipovas (Japan), Lodales (France), Zocord (Austria and Sweden), Zimstat, Simvahexal (Australia), Lipex (Australia and New Zealand), Simvastatin-Teva, Simvacor, Simvaxon, Simovil (Israel)and others.
The primary US patent for Zocor expired on [[June 23]], [[2006]]; [[Ranbaxy Laboratories]] (at the 80-mg strength) and [[Teva Pharmaceutical Industries]] through its Ivax Pharmaceuticals unit (at all other strengths) were given approval by the FDA to manufacture and sell simvastatin as a [[generic drug]] with 180-day exclusivity. [[Dr. Reddy's Laboratories]] also has a license from Merck & Co. to sell simvastatin as an authorized generic drug.
[[Ezetimibe/simvastatin]] is a combination product to lower lipids and marketed as Vytorin.
== Sales ==
Prior to losing U.S. patent protection, simvastatin was Merck & Co.’s largest selling drug and second largest selling cholesterol lowering drug in the world; it recorded 4.3 billion dollars of sales in 2005.<!--
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Zocor had an original patent expiration date of January 2006 but was extended by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expire on [[June 23]], [[2006]]. The FDA granted the patent extension after Merck & Co, Inc. submitted data from studies of the drug’s positive effect on children, a move typically used by drug companies to lengthen exclusivity.<!--
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Ordinarily, Merck & Co. would have expected a sharp decrease in sales after the generic versions of simvastatin entered the market; however, Merck has slashed the price of Zocor dramatically in an effort to claim sales that would have otherwise gone to the generic versions. At least two major U.S. health insurers, [[UnitedHealth Group|UnitedHealthcare]] and [[WellPoint]], are now offering Zocor to their members at generic copays.<!--
--><ref name = "pricewar">{{cite news | url=http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060622/generic_drugs_zocor.html?.v=1 | title=Zocor Patent Expiring Means Bidding War | last=Brin | first=Dinah Wisenberg | publisher=Associated Press
| date = [[2006-06-22]] | accessdate = 2006-07-09}}</ref>
In addition, since Merck & Co. itself manufactures at least some versions of [[Dr. Reddy's Laboratories|Dr. Reddy's]] authorized generic simvastatin. Merck & Co. is also poised to profit from the Dr. Reddy's version. An 80 mg, 30-count bottle of Dr. Reddy's simvastatin obtained [[July 6]], [[2006]], states it is made by Merck Sharp & Dohme (Merck & Co.'s name outside the US to avoid conflicts with [[Merck KGaA]]) in the UK, just like 80 mg Zocor, and has a Merck & Co. logo on the bottom; except for omitting the "80" on one side, the tablets are visually identical to 80 mg Zocor, including "543" on the other side which is the key part of the [[National Drug Code]] for 80 mg Zocor.
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
==See also==
* [[List of drugs affected by grapefruit]]
==External links==
*[http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/simva.htm RxList.com] - Simvastatin
{{Statins}}
{{Merck&Co}}
[[Category:Merck]]
[[Category:Statins]]
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