The national service framework (NSF) targets for cholesterol-lowering are achievable, according to the results of a new study. The trial involved 198 patients with fasting low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels of between 3.0-4.7mmol/L. It showed that, after 14 weeks of treatment with 20mg simvastatin, about 93 per cent of patients achieved the NSF goal of an LDL level of 3.0mmol/L (Current Medical Research and Opinion 2000;16:208). The study follows research suggesting that cholesterol is reduced to recommended targets in only a minority of patients in England (PJ, December 2, p812).