• Determine the effect of rosuvastatin (up-titrated to a dose of 40mg/day) compared to placebo on cardiac remodelling, estimated by change in left ventricular ejection fraction on radionuclide ventriculography, at 26 weeks post randomization from baseline.
  

• Determine the effects of rosuvastatin (up-titrated to a dose of 40mg/day) compared to placebo by measuring:
  
•  Changes from baseline at 26 weeks post-randomisation, of left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic and end-systolic diameter, and LV fraction shortening, as determined by transthoracic echocardiography.
  
•  The percentage change in lipid parameters: total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides after 6, 12 and 26 weeks post-randomisation
  
•  Changes from baseline at 26 weeks post-randomisation in neurohormonal and immunological markers: norepinephrine, endothelin, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, tumour necrosis factor α and interleukin 6.
  
• Assess the safety of rosuvastatin over 26 weeks determined by the incidence and severity of adverse events and abnormal laboratory values.
  
• Assess change in quality of life score, as determined by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire.
  

Inclusion Criteria:

• Signed informed consent, males or females aged 18 or older, LVEF ≤ 40% assessed by RNVG or contrast ventriculogram or ≤ 35% assessed by TTE within the previous 6 months, LVEF < 45% as assessed by RNVG during Visit 1, NYHA Class II, III or IV symptoms primarily related to heart failure, ischaemic and non-ischaemic patients and on stable heart failure therapy as defined by physician’s best practice.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Key exclusion criteria include acute myocarditis within the last 12 months, diabetes mellitus not controlled by diet, oral therapy or insulin therapy, homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, receiving biventricular pacing or expected to receive biventricular pacing in the next 6 months, subjects who normally would be considered for statin therapy in the next 6 months, sever hypertension, history of definite myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary bypass graft within 3 months prior to enrolment in the study, body mass index < 15, plus others.