ABSTRACT
Introduction Like other statins, atorvastatin is a compound that inhibits the liver enzyme, HMG-CoA reductase, and so reduces the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the human body. In 1985, Bruce Roth first synthesized atorvastatin for a company that was subsequently acquired by Pfizer. Pfizer markets atorvastatin under the brand name “Lipitor.” In 2010, Lipitor was Pfizer’s best-selling drug, with sales revenue of $10.7 billion, or 15.7% of the company’s total revenue.1
