Pravastatin

Pravastatin (marketed as Pravachol or Selektine) is a member of the drug class of statins, used for lowering cholesterol and preventing cardiovascular disease. Initially known as CS-514, it was originally identified in a bacterium called Nocardia autotrophica by researchers of the Sankyo Pharma Inc.. It is presently being marketed outside Japan by the pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved generic pravastatin for sale in the United States for the first time on April 24, 2006. Generic pravastatin sodium tablets (10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg) are manufactured by TEVA Pharmaceuticals in Kfar Sava, Israel.