Statins are used widely to reduce the levels of low-density lipoproteins and cholesterol and thereby lower the incidence of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. They achieve this through their ability to limit the production of mevalonate via blockade of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. This enzyme is the rate limiting step controlling the de novo production of cholesterol.