Lipitor chirality in Pharmacology
Chirality plays a big role in pharmacology. Although enantiomers of chiral drugs may have the same physical and chemical properties, they can behave differently from one another in a living system.
Lipitor or atorvastatin calcium is a drug that reduces level of triglycerides and bad cholesterol in the blood. It is commonly used to treat dyslipidemia and prevent cardiovascular disease among people who are at high risk.
There were 3 types of atorvastatin introduced in the market, but now Lipitor has become the best selling drug in history with its specific structure. After many years of research, scientists realized that the importance of chirality since the beneficial effects of a drug can reside in only one enantiomer. The counterpart enantiomer will have either no effect, little effect to significant adverse effect from the original design. With chirality, we are able to obtain a safer alternative form of medication from existing structure, providing cheaper or more effect alternative drugs.
Lets take a look at Lipitor. Lipitor has 4 stereocenters and a molecular weight of 1209.42 g. After many years This top selling drug has a specific R,R enantiomer that is base off the 4 possible isomers.
There were 3 types of atorvastatin introduced in the market, but now Lipitor has become the best selling drug in history with its specific structure. After many years of research, scientists realized that the importance of chirality since the beneficial effects of a drug can reside in only one enantiomer. The counterpart enantiomer will have either no effect, little effect to significant adverse effect from the original design. With chirality, we are able to obtain a safer alternative form of medication from existing structure, providing cheaper or more effect alternative drugs.
This is very educational and informative. I just learned something new about lipitor that I did not know. Thanks.
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