Hypercholesterolaemia is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CV), according to epidemiological studies. Rosuvastatin [Crestor] is a new synthetic, orally active statin-type HMG CoA reductase inhibitor developed by AstraZeneca, and has completed phase III clinical trials in Japan, the US and Europe, where it has shown greater reductions in LDL-cholesterol in patients with hypercholesterolaemia than both atorvastatin and simvastatin. Several presentations at the 6th Annual European Conference of the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) [Barcelona, Spain; November 2003] evaluated the cost effectiveness of rosuvastatin versus alternative statin therapy among patients with hypercholesterolaemia throughout Europe. All studies received financial support from AstraZeneca.