BACKGROUND Cross-study comparisons suggest that systemic exposure (AUC) to rosuvastatin calcium, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A-reductase inhibitor, may be approximately 2-fold higher in Asian subjects living in Asian countries than in white subjects living in Western countries. OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to determine the pharmacokinetic characteristics of rosuvastatin and its metabolites after single and multiple doses of rosuvastatin in healthy Chinese subjects living in China. METHODS This was an open-label, ascending single- and multiple-dose study. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive rosuvastatin 5, 10, or 20 mg. Each subject received 1 tablet of the assigned treatment on day 1 and days 4 through 10. Plasma concentrations of rosuvastatin, N-desmethyl rosuvastatin, and rosuvastatin lactone were measured through 72 hours after administration of single doses and through 96 hours after administration of multiple doses. Blood samples were obtained within 30 minutes before dosing on days 7, 8, and 9 for the assessment of pharmacokinetic parameters at steady state. Noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis was performed to determine the C(max) and AUC(0-t) for rosuvastatin, N-desmethyl rosuvastatin, and rosuvastatin lactone after single and multiple doses of rosuvastatin. Tolerability assessments were conducted throughout the study. RESULTS Of the 36 enrolled subjects, only 1 was female. The mean age of subjects in the rosuvastatin 5-, 10-, and 20-mg groups was 22.4, 21.3, and 22.4 years, respectively. Weight and height ranged from 54 to 85 kg and from 161 to 189 cm, respectively. Geometric mean C(max) values for rosuvastatin after administration of single doses of rosuvastatin 5, 10, and 20 mg were 8.33, 10.76, and 19.17 ng/mL, respectively; the corresponding geometric mean AUC(0-t) values were 57.63, 88.89, and 163.87 ng . h/mL. At steady state, values for C(max) were 8.31, 8.41, and 20.73 ng/mL; the corresponding geometric mean AUC values were 64.87, 77.29, and 178.64 ng . h/mL. After administration of multiple doses of rosuvastatin 5, 10, and 20 mg, the accumulation ratios were 1.23, 0.95, and 1.23, respectively, indicating minimal accumulation of rosuvastatin. Circulating concentrations of N-desmethyl rosuvastatin and rosuvastatin lactone were well below those of rosuvastatin after administration of single and multiple doses of rosuvastatin. CONCLUSIONS Increases in C(max), AUC(0-t), C(max,ss), and AUC(ss) were observed with increasing single and multiple doses of rosuvastatin 5, 10, and 20 mg. The increase in exposure with increasing doses was lower than would be expected under conditions of strict proportionality. Rosuvastatin exhibited little accumulation on repeated administration. All rosuvastatin doses were well tolerated in these Chinese subjects.