Foundations for blockbuster drugs in federally sponsored research

'Blockbuster' drugs, which are widely prescribed and improve the health of millions, often originate in fundamental laboratory research. An important example of such drugs are the cholesterol-lowering drugs called 'statins', including Zocor, Pravachol, and Lipitor, which millions of people take in t he U.S. every year. This short paper outlines the direct and indirect contr ibutions of federally sponsored research to the development of these import ant drugs.