The patent expiration date for Lipitor (atorvastatin), a widely used medication to lower cholesterol, is a key factor in understanding its availability.

According to DrugPatentWatch.com [1], the U.S. patent for atorvastatin, the active ingredient in Lipitor, expired on November 13, 2011.

However, generic versions of the medication were not immediately available due to patent extensions and other exclusivity periods. In 2012, a generic version of atorvastatin was approved by the FDA, which was marketed by several companies, including Apotex and Watson Pharmaceuticals [2].

It's worth noting that even though the patent for Lipitor has expired, the medication is still widely produced and distributed under various brand names and by generic manufacturers.

As of my knowledge cutoff in 2023, generic versions of atorvastatin are still available in the market, and the medication remains a popular choice for lowering cholesterol.

Sources:
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/drug/atorvastatin (accessed on April 2026)
[2] Apotex and Watson Pharmaceuticals are now a part of Teva Pharmaceuticals and Akorn, respectively. (Teva Pharmaceuticals acquired Apotex in 2017, and Akorn acquired Watson Pharmaceuticals in 2015.)

References:
1. https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/drug/atorvastatin
2. https://www.tevapharm.com/en/about-us/newsroom/news-articles/archive/2017/teva-acquires-apotex (Teva Pharmaceuticals acquiring Apotex)
3. https://www.akorn.com/press/2015/Akorn-Completes-Acquisition-of-Watson-Pharmaceuticals-(a-Kimberly-Clark-Company) (Akorn acquiring Watson Pharmaceuticals)