PLEIOTROPIC EFFECT
Landmark clinical trials such as the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (also known as 4S), the West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study, the Long-Term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischemic Disease Trial, the Heart Protection Study, and the Cholesterol and Recurrent Events Trial have solidified the utility of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, or statins, for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.