lovastatin + cholesterol

Lovastatin + cholesterol is a topical combination formulation containing the statin drug lovastatin and cholesterol. This combination has been investigated primarily for the treatment of disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP), a rare skin disorder characterized by abnormal keratinization. Lovastatin is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor that blocks the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, thereby inhibiting endogenous cholesterol synthesis. Cholesterol in this context serves as a barrier-repairing agent, aiming to address local skin barrier defects associated with DSAP. Clinical trials have shown that both topical lovastatin 2% plus cholesterol 2% cream and topical lovastatin 2% cream alone are equally effective in reducing DSAP lesion severity, suggesting that the addition of cholesterol may not be necessary for efficacy[3]. The mechanism of action involves inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase by lovastatin at the site of application.

Other names

lovastatin-cholesterollovastatin/cholesterol