Certain trans-6-[2-[2-(substituted-phenyl)-3- (or 4-)heteroaryl-5-substituted-1_H-pyrrol-1-yl]ethyl]tetrahydro-4-hydroxy -2_H-pyran-2-ones and the corresponding lactone-ring-opened acids are potent inhibitors of the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG CoA reductase) and are thus useful hypolipidemic or hypocholesterolemic agents. Pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and a method of inhibiting the biosynthesis of cholesterol employing such pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed.
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