Abstract: Novel strains of Aspergillus terreus have been discovered which provide fermentation production of at least 5.2 g/L of 7-[1,2,6,7,8,8a(R)-hexahydro-2(S),6(R)-dimethyl-8(S)-hydroxy-1(S)-naphthyl ]-3(R),5(R)-dihydroxyheptanoic acid (triol acid, I), but with production of not more than 0.85 g/L of (triol acid)-related side products and specifically less than 0.10 mg/liter of lovastatin. The predominant fermentation product triol acid, may be converted in a straightforward manner to its lactone form, in which it is an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase and thus useful as an antihypercholesterolemic agent, and in which it may also serve as an intermediate for preparation of other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.

Abstract: This invention relates to compounds of structural formula (I): ##STR1## which are squalene synthetase inhibitors and thus useful as cholesterol lowering agents.

Abstract: Mevinolin, compactin and dihydro- and tetrahydro derivatives thereof are converted to more active HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors by C-methylation of the natural 2(S)-methylbutyryloxy side chain to form a 2,2-dimethylbutyryloxy side chain.