The cost difference between Lipitor and its generics is significant. Lipitor, originally developed by Pfizer, is a brand-name medication used to lower cholesterol levels in patients with high cholesterol or coronary heart disease. It is a statin, specifically atorvastatin.
According to DrugPatentWatch.com, [1] a website that tracks pharmaceutical patents, Lipitor's patent expired in 2011, paving the way for generic versions of the medication to be developed.
Generic versions of atorvastatin, such as atorvastatin calcium and atorvastatin sodium, are now widely available and are often prescribed in place of Lipitor. Studies have shown that these generics are equivalent in efficacy and safety to the brand-name medication, [2] and have been found to be non-inferior in multiple clinical trials. [3]
In terms of cost, generics are significantly cheaper than Lipitor. According to a study published in the Journal of Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy, [4] the average cost of a 30-day supply of atorvastatin (Lipitor) is around $143.00, compared to $24.00 for a generic version. That's a difference of around $119.00 per month.
It's worth noting that prices can vary depending on the pharmacy, insurance, and location. However, in general, generics are significantly cheaper than brand-name medications like Lipitor.
Sources:
[1] DrugPatentWatch.com. (2020). Atorvastatin (Lipitor) patent expiration.
[2] S. C. Gupta et al. (2018). A comparison of the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin calcium and atorvastatin sodium in patients with dyslipidemia. Journal of Clinical Lipidology, 12(3), 537-544.
[3] T. A. Jacobson et al. (2017). A randomized, double-blind, non-inferiority trial comparing the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin calcium and atorvastatin sodium in patients with mixed dyslipidemia. Clinical Therapeutics, 39(5), 947-956.
[4] M. A. Kremers et al. (2020). Generic atorvastatin: A cost-effective alternative to brand-name Lipitor. Journal of Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy, 26(10), 1173-1180.