Danicopan and Simvastatin: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · AI content regenerated Jul 11, 2026 · Source data updated Jul 4, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Simvastatin
Danicopan
How we grade severity & evidence
Severity levels
- Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
- Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
- Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
- Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.
Evidence grades
- Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
- Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
- Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
- Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
- Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.
Here's what's going on. Danicopan (Voydeya) can slow down a transporter in your body called BCRP that normally helps move certain drugs out. Simvastatin (Zocor) is affected by this kind of transporter, so when you take both, more simvastatin can build up in your body than usual.
Higher statin levels can mean a higher chance of side effects, like muscle aches or muscle soreness. This doesn't mean you should stop either medicine. It just means your care team may keep a closer eye on you and can adjust your simvastatin dose if needed. Let your pharmacist or doctor know if you notice new muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness.
Mechanism: Danicopan inhibits BCRP-mediated efflux, reducing clearance of BCRP substrates and increasing their systemic exposure. Simvastatin (and its active acid) is a BCRP substrate, so exposure is expected to rise. Neither drug is a prodrug relevant to reversing this direction; the net effect is increased statin exposure.
- Direction: increased simvastatin exposure, increased myopathy/rhabdomyolysis risk.
- Magnitude: analogous rosuvastatin data showed Cmax up 3.3-fold and AUC up 2.2-fold.
- Evidence: probable; onset: unspecified.
- Management: monitor for statin-related adverse effects (muscle symptoms, CK if indicated); dose may be reduced and individualized.
What happens
Increased BCRP substrate exposure and an increased risk of BCRP substrate-related adverse effect
Interaction Deep Dive
When danicopan is taken together with BCRP substrates, exposure to those substrates can rise, potentially heightening the likelihood of adverse reactions linked to the BCRP substrate. A drug interaction study examined a single oral 20 mg dose of rosuvastatin given alongside danicopan at steady state (200 mg three times daily over 4 days); this combination raised rosuvastatin Cmax by 3.3-fold and AUC (0 to inf) by 2.2-fold. Patients should be watched more closely for adverse reactions tied to the BCRP substrate, and reducing the dose of the BCRP substrate can be considered when necessary1.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Inhibition of BCRP-mediated efflux transport by danicopan
How to manage this interaction
The good news: this is manageable with monitoring and dose tailoring by your care team.
- Keep taking both medicines exactly as prescribed unless your prescriber tells you otherwise.
- Your team may monitor you more closely for statin side effects, and your simvastatin dose may be adjusted and individualized if needed.
- Watch for and promptly report new or worsening muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, or dark urine.
- Ask your pharmacist or doctor before starting any new medicine or supplement while on both.
Management is individual — confirm any change with your pharmacist or prescriber.
Literature reports
1 report — tap to read
a) A drug interaction study showed that giving a single oral 20 mg dose of rosuvastatin together with danicopan administered to steady state (200 mg three times daily for 4 days) led to increases in rosuvastatin Cmax and AUC (0 to inf) of 3.3-fold and 2.2-fold, respectively 1.
Common questions
Can I take Danicopan and Simvastatin together?
Danicopan can raise simvastatin levels and the chance of muscle-related side effects. Keep taking both as prescribed, watch for muscle pain or weakness, and let your care team monitor you and adjust the statin dose if needed. Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Danicopan and Simvastatin interaction?
It is rated major. Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "unspecified". The timing of this interaction is not well characterized.
How is the Danicopan and Simvastatin interaction managed?
The good news: this is manageable with monitoring and dose tailoring by your care team. Keep taking both medicines exactly as prescribed unless your prescriber tells you otherwise. Your team may monitor you more closely for statin side effects, and your simvastatin dose may be adjusted and individualized if needed. Watch for and promptly report new or worsening muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, o… Management is individual — always follow your own care team's guidance.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "probable". Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
From our Q&A
Real reader questions about these medications, each personally answered by our pharmacist:
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Danicopan or Simvastatin need adjusting while I take them together?
- What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
- Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
- Is there a safer alternative to one of these medications for me?
References (1)
- Product Information: VOYDEYA(TM) oral tablets, danicopan oral tablets. Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Per manufacturer), Boston, MA, 2024. DailyMed
Keep reading about Simvastatin
Keep reading about Danicopan
These medications also interact with supplements
Prescription drugs aren't the whole picture — herbal and dietary supplements can interact with them too. From the evidence-graded Natural Medicines database:
major · moderate · minor — check everything you take with our drug–supplement interaction checker.
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