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Pitavastatin (Livalo)

Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.

About Pitavastatin

What it is

Pitavastatin is a statin: it blocks HMG-CoA reductase, the liver enzyme that makes cholesterol, so the liver takes more LDL cholesterol out of the blood. It is barely broken down by CYP3A4, so it has fewer interactions than many statins. It is used to lower cholesterol. It is sold as Livalo, among other names.

How genes come into it

Pitavastatin gets into the liver mainly through the transporter made by SLCO1B1. The common variant rs4149056 (in the *5 and *15 versions) weakens that transporter, so more pitavastatin stays in the blood, which is linked to a higher chance of statin muscle symptoms. CPIC has published a guideline on SLCO1B1 and pitavastatin. Studies have also looked at the transporters ABCC2 and ABCG2, with weaker evidence.

Published guidelines

Clinical guidelines that name a gene for Pitavastatin. They sort people into groups by the gene copies they carry.

CPIC guideline: SLCO1B1. Normal Function · Poor Function · Increased Function · Decreased Function · Possible Decreased Function · Indeterminate. Strong. 2022.

What research found

Every published finding on gene variants and Pitavastatin. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.

Rated evidence (4 rated variants)

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, SLCO1B1*37: Level 1A · replicated. Metabolism/PK. 5.

SLCO1B1 rs4149056: Level 1A · replicated. Metabolism/PK. 2.

ABCC2 rs717620: Level 3. Metabolism/PK. 1.

SLCO1B1 rs2306283: Level 3. Other. 1.

Metabolism (15 findings)

Studies of how quickly the body processes this medication.

ABCC2 rs717620: Allele T is associated with decreased exposure to pitavastatin in healthy individuals as compared to allele C.

CYP2C9 CYP2C9 poor metabolizer: CYP2C9 intermediate metabolizer and poor metabolizer is associated with increased exposure to pitavastatin in healthy individuals as compared to CYP2C9 normal metabolizer.

CYP2C9 CYP2C9*1, CYP2C9*3: CYP2C9 *1/*3 is associated with increased concentrations of pitavastatin in healthy individuals as compared to CYP2C9 *1/*1.

SLCO1B1 SLCO1B1*1, SLCO1B1*15: SLCO1B1 *15 is associated with increased exposure to pitavastatin in healthy individuals as compared to SLCO1B1 *1/*1.

Response (2 findings)

Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.

SLCO1B1 rs2306283: Genotypes AG + GG are not associated with response to pitavastatin in people with Hyperlipidemias as compared to genotype AA.

SLCO1B1 rs4149056: Genotypes CC + CT are not associated with response to pitavastatin in people with Hyperlipidemias as compared to genotype TT.

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.

Related Drugs

More drugs from the same category

Baycol (Statins)

Crestor (Statins)

Lescol (Statins)

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.

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Content updated September 2026.

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