In patients with hypercholesterolaemia, lowering cholesterol levels using HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) can reduce the risk of fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) and death from heart disease, Of the 5 HMG CoA reductase inhibitors currently available on the US market, the newest of these, atorvastatin, is the most potent in terms of lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels. There is also growing evidence that atorvastatin is the most cost effective of these lipid-lowering agents. At the Association for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (APOR) Lipid Conference [Florida, US; November 1997], the results of several pharmacoeconomic studies, including a pharmacoeconomic assessment of the CURVES*trial, showed atorvastatin to be more cost effective than other HMG CoA reductase inhibitors.