pˈɪɾɐvˌæstɐtˌɪn pɹˈiːviəsli nˈoʊn æz ˈɪɾɐvˌæstɐtˌɪn, ˈɪɾɐbˌævɐstˌɪn, nˈɪsvɐstˌætɪn, ˌɛŋkˈeɪ wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹ ɔːɹ ˌɛŋkˌeɪˈɛs wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹ wʌz dɪskˈʌvɚd ɪn dʒəpˈæn baɪ nˈɪsɑːn kˈɛmɪkəl ˈɪndʌstɹiz ænd dɪvˈɛləpt fˈɜːðɚ baɪ kˈaʊə fˌɑːɹmɐsˈuːɾɪkəlz, tˈoʊkɪˌoʊ.
Pitavastatin (previously known as itavastatin, itabavastin, nisvastatin, NK-104 or NKS-104) was discovered in Japan by Nissan Chemical Industries and developed further by Kowa Pharmaceuticals, Tokyo.