On 2016 Jan 11, Brian Wasko commented:

Cholesterol levels are a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the number one cause of death in the USA. The most commonly prescribed cholesterol lowering drugs are known as statins (e.g., Lipitor), which work by inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis. Despite their success, statins have many side-effects that are likely due to the fact that statins inhibit not only cholesterol biosynthesis, but also synthesis of other important non-sterol compounds (e.g., Coenzyme Q10, Heme A, and prenylated proteins). By adding an inhibitor of squalene synthase in combination with either a statin or a nitrogenous bisphosphonate, I found that this appears to inhibit cholesterol synthesis more specifically than statins, and prevents the depletion of non-sterol compounds (the undesired effect of statins). This work was a proof of principle, and provides rationale to further develop these inhibitor combinations in order to create drugs superior to statins.

On 2016 Jan 11, Brian Wasko commented:

Cholesterol levels are a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the number one cause of death in the USA. The most commonly prescribed cholesterol lowering drugs are known as statins (e.g., Lipitor), which work by inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis. Despite their success, statins have many side-effects that are likely due to the fact that statins inhibit not only cholesterol biosynthesis, but also synthesis of other important non-sterol compounds (e.g., Coenzyme Q10, Heme A, and prenylated proteins). By adding an inhibitor of squalene synthase in combination with either a statin or a nitrogenous bisphosphonate, I found that this appears to inhibit cholesterol synthesis more specifically than statins, and prevents the depletion of non-sterol compounds (the undesired effect of statins). This work was a proof of principle, and provides rationale to further develop these inhibitor combinations in order to create drugs superior to statins.