Statins

Statins and pharmacogenetics

Also known as: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, Cholesterol medications

7 medications 8 brand products SLCO1B1

Which statin fits my genetics best?

Depending on your genotype, these 7 medications split into up to 3 groups, from take-as-directed through to worth avoiding. Gene2Rx Pro reads ABCG2 and CYP2C9 and SLCO1B1 from your own report and tells you which is which.

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Why pharmacogenetics matter for statins

Statins are the mainstay of cholesterol management and cardiovascular disease prevention. They share a class-wide pharmacogenetic story: the SLCO1B1 transporter moves statins from blood into liver cells where they work. People with reduced SLCO1B1 function accumulate statins in circulation (including in muscle), which directly drives statin-associated muscle pain (the single most common reason patients discontinue a statin).^[1]^[2]

SLCO1B1 testing is increasingly offered before or during statin therapy. Simvastatin is the most SLCO1B1-dependent; pravastatin and rosuvastatin are least affected. Switching within the class is often the simplest response to a positive SLCO1B1 result.^[3]

Key gene in this class

SLCO1B1

Solute Carrier Organic Anion Transporter 1B1

SLCO1B1 is the transporter that moves statins into liver cells where they work. A common variant (called *5) reduces transporter function and leaves more statin circulating in the bloodstream and …

Medications in this class with pharmacogenetic guidelines

Each link goes to the drug's full pharmacogenetics page with CPIC and FDA phenotype recommendations.

Atorvastatin SLCO1B1 Fluvastatin CYP2C9 / SLCO1B1 Lovastatin SLCO1B1 Pitavastatin SLCO1B1 Pravastatin SLCO1B1 Rosuvastatin ABCG2 / SLCO1B1 Simvastatin SLCO1B1

Brand products in the Statins class

Combined products and brand names for the medications above. Each links to a pharmacogenetic breakdown.

simvastatin, ezetimibe

Zocor

simvastatin

References

CPIC. CPIC Guideline for Statins and SLCO1B1, ABCG2, and CYP2C9 (2022). cpicpgx.org
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Table of Pharmacogenomic Biomarkers in Drug Labeling (2024). fda.gov
PharmGKB / Stanford University. PharmGKB: The Pharmacogenomics Knowledge Base. pharmgkb.org

Which statins is right for your genetics?

This page covers the pharmacogenetics of statins in general. A Gene2Rx report tells you how your personal genotype interacts with every drug on this page.

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Informational only, not medical advice. Pharmacogenetic guidelines describe population-level patterns that inform prescribing decisions. Never start, stop, or change a medication without talking to your prescribing clinician.