| abstract |
Compounds are provided having the following structure n nand pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof,n n nwherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , U, V, W, Y, and n are as defined above,n which compounds are HMG CoA reductase inhibitors and thus are active in inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis, modulating blood serum lipids, for example, lowering LDL cholesterol and/or increasing HDL cholesterol, and treating hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and atherosclerosis as well as Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis and may be employed as hormone replacement therapy. n A method for treating the above diseases employing the above compounds is also provided. |