Akira Endo, ‘remarkable’ scientist who discovered statins, dies aged 90
The scientist whose work led to the creation of statins, a chemical that prevents heart attacks and strokes, has died aged 90.
Akira Endo found the first cholesterol-lowering compound in 1973 in a lab in Tokyo. The Japanese biochemist was said to have been inspired by Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin in 1928, which lead him to study mould or fungi in order to develop medicines.
Statins work by reducing the concentration in blood of “bad” cholesterol and have helped to prolong the lives of millions of people.
Prof Bryan Williams, the chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, described Endo as “a remarkable scientist”.
He told BBC News: “This really was the forerunner to the development of statin drugs,” adding: “They have absolutely transformed the prevention of heart disease and stroke.
“There’s very few treatments in medicine that have happened in the past few years that have had such a dramatic impact.”
