Lipitor manufacture

When Paal and Knorr discovered the pyrrole synthesis more than a century ago, they had no idea that the reaction bearing their names would have contributed greatly to the manufacture of atorvastatin (Lipitor). Indeed, synthesis of Lipitor is probably the tour de force for the Paal-Knorr pyrrole synthesis. 

Green Biocatalysts for Production of Atorvastatin Codexis, Inc. has developed an enzyme-based process that has greatly improved the yield, efficiency, and safety record for manufacture of atorvastatin, the key building block for Lipitor , one of the world s best-selling drugs, that lowers cholesterol by blocking its synthesis in the liver. The new enzymatic process is dramatically faster and more efficient than previous methods, and also reduces cyanide-related waste, the use of solvents, and the need for purification equipment. 

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