An inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase (Ki = 0.3 nM for the rat enzyme); binds to the HMG-CoA binding site; inhibits human CYP2C9 (IC50 = 100 nM); inhibits increases in serum cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, and TBARS levels, as well as vascular ACE activity in rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet at 2 mg/kg; increases survival in a mouse model of myocardial infarction at 10 mg/kg per day