Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.
Lovastatin was the first statin approved, originally found in a fungus (it also occurs naturally in red yeast rice). It blocks HMG-CoA reductase, the liver enzyme that makes cholesterol, so the liver takes more LDL cholesterol out of the blood. It is used to lower cholesterol and to reduce the chance of heart disease. It is sold as Mevacor and Altoprev, among other names.
Lovastatin is broken down by CYP3A4 and taken into the liver by the transporter SLCO1B1. The common SLCO1B1 variant rs4149056 (in the *5 and *15 versions) weakens the transporter, so more lovastatin stays in the blood, which is linked to a higher chance of statin muscle symptoms. CPIC has published a guideline on SLCO1B1 and lovastatin. Studies have also looked at genes linked to how much cholesterol falls, such as LDLR and CETP, with weaker evidence.
Clinical guidelines that name a gene for Lovastatin. They sort people into groups by the gene copies they carry.
Every published finding on gene variants and Lovastatin. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.
PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.
SLCO1B1 SLCO1B1*1, SLCO1B1*5, SLCO1B1*15: Level 1A · replicated. Metabolism/PK. 2.
SLCO1B1 rs4149056: Level 1A · replicated. Metabolism/PK. 2.
SLCO1B1 rs4149056: Level 1A · replicated. Toxicity: statin-related myopathy. 1.
SLCO1B1 SLCO1B1*1, SLCO1B1*5, SLCO1B1*15: Level 1A · replicated. Toxicity: statin-related myopathy. 1.
Studies of how quickly the body processes this medication.
Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.
Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.
More drugs from the same category
Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.
Content updated September 2026.
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