TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The concentration of the solution of step (a) is 4-10%, preferably 6.5%. The ratio of toluene to methanol is 5:1-1:5 (v/v), preferably 2:1 (v/v). The molar ratio of tert-butyl fluvastatin to NaOH is slightly lower than 1. The ratio of THF and cyclohexane is 1:5-1:10 (v/v), preferably 1:7.5 (v/v). Preferred Process: The reaction mass of step (b) is maintained at 25-30 degrees C for approximately 3-5 hours. The aqueous layer is washed with toluene and the organic layer is extracted with demineralized water during phase separation, the aqueous layers are combined and the organic layers are discarded. The combined aqueous layers are concentrated under vacuum to 1/4 of its volume and 2.8-3.2 times of the volume of the starting material. The aqueous suspension obtained in step (d) is stirred for approximately 3 hours and gradually cooled down to 15-20 degrees C. The spray-drying is conducted at 100 degrees C. ACTIVITY - Antilipemic; Cardiant; Vasotropic.    MECHANISM OF ACTION - 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme-A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor.    ADMINISTRATION - Administration of fluvastatin sodium is oral. No dosage details given.    EXAMPLE - (3R,5S,6E)-7-(3-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-(1-methylethyl)-1H-indol-2-yl)-3,5-dihydroxyhept-6-enoate (100 g) was added into a mixture of toluene (1100 ml) and methanol (500 ml) under stirring at 25-30 degrees C. The mixture was stirred at the same temperature until the material was dissolved. Then, 10% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution (100 ml) was added within 1-2 minutes at 25-35 degrees C. After stirring at 25-30 degrees C for 5 hours, the reaction mass was transferred to a separatory funnel. The separated aqueous layer was washed with toluene (200 ml). The organic layers were combined and extracted with demineralized water (400 ml). The organic layer was discarded. The combined aqueous layers were transferred again into a separatory funnel to remove any residual organic solvent and the aqueous layer was concentrated under vacuum to 2.8-3.2 volumes. The suspension was stirred for three hours while it was gradually cooled to 15-20 degrees C. The precipitated solid was filtered, washed with water (50 ml) and dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (200 ml) at 50 degrees C. Cyclohexane (1500 ml) was added to the clear resulting solution. The suspension was stirred for three hours and gradually cooled to 25-30 degrees C. The precipitated solid was filtered and washed with cyclohexane (3 x 100 ml). The resulting wet cake was dissolved in methanol (1000 ml) and spray-dried at 100 degrees C to give amorphous fluvastatin sodium (85-90 g) having purity of higher than 99.9%.