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.