Pravastatin sodium salt hydrate

Pravastatin is a water-soluble, orally effective, competitive inhibitor of Hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase (Ki = 2.3nM), the rate-limiting enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway and the target of the statin class of cholesterol-lowering/regulating compounds. Pravastatin potently blocks cholesterol synthesis in vivo (Ki~ 1 nM) and displays cardioprotective properties. Pravastatin reduces LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels and increase HDL cholesterol in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Pravastatin also acts as an immunomodulator and as an inhibitor of p21ras isoprenylation.