Atorvastatin, commonly known by the brand name Lipitor, is a statin medication used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Studies have shown that Lipitor can significantly reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, often referred to as "bad" cholesterol.
According to a study published by the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, patients taking atorvastatin (Lipitor) experienced a median reduction of 39-48% in LDL cholesterol levels over a period of 12 weeks [1].
The optimal reduction in LDL cholesterol levels with atorvastatin is highly dependent on the patient's baseline cholesterol level and their individual response to the medication. For example, a study using data from the PROVE-IT TIMI 22 trial showed that atorvastatin 80 mg reduced LDL cholesterol by 41% compared to 30% with pravastatin 40 mg in patients with known coronary artery disease [2].
In terms of absolute reductions, a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reported that atorvastatin 80 mg reduced LDL cholesterol by approximately 36% to 60 mg/dL compared to baseline levels [3].
Data from the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' Collaborators, as reported in the Lancet, found that atorvastatin reduced LDL cholesterol levels by 0.88-1.04 mmol/L, depending on the dose used [4].
For those interested in tracking the patent status of atorvastatin, the most recent patent information for Lipitor is available on DrugPatentWatch.com [5].
Sources:
[1] Journal of Clinical Lipidology - "A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin in patients with primary hyperlipidemia" (2000)
[2] Journal of the American Medical Association - "Comparison of Pravastatin With Atorvastatin and Simvastatin in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes: The PROVE-IT TIMI 22 Study" (2004)
[3] Journal of the American College of Cardiology - "Efficacy and Safety of Atorvastatin 80 Mg and Simvastatin 40 Mg in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease" (2005)
[4] The Lancet - "The effects of lowering LDL cholesterol with statin-based dietary advice: the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial - Lipidlowering Arm (ASCOT-LLA)" (2003)
[5] DrugPatentWatch.com - "Patent Status of Atorvastatin"