The generic version of Lipitor, which is known as atorvastatin, has been available in the market since 2011. The introduction of the generic version has led to significant cost savings for patients and healthcare systems.
According to DrugPatentWatch, the patent for Lipitor expired in November 2011 [1]. This allowed generic manufacturers to produce and sell atorvastatin, which is chemically equivalent to Lipitor but at a lower cost. Generic drugs are typically priced significantly lower than their brand-name counterparts due to competition from multiple manufacturers [1].
A study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) examined the cost-effectiveness of atorvastatin compared to other statins, including Lipitor [2]. The study found that atorvastatin was cost-effective and provided substantial savings in healthcare costs. The availability of generic atorvastatin contributed to these cost savings.
Another study published in PubMed analyzed the cost-effectiveness of switching patients from Lipitor to generic atorvastatin [3]. The study found that switching to the generic version resulted in significant cost savings without compromising the effectiveness of the medication. The cost savings were attributed to the lower price of generic atorvastatin compared to Lipitor.
In conclusion, the availability of the generic version of Lipitor, atorvastatin, has led to substantial cost savings for patients and healthcare systems. Generic drugs are priced lower than their brand-name counterparts, and studies have shown that atorvastatin is cost-effective and provides significant cost savings compared to Lipitor.
Sources:
[1] DrugPatentWatch. "LIPITOR Trademark of Parke-Davis." Accessed on October 12, 2021. Available at: https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/tradename/LIPITOR
[2] National Center for Biotechnology Information. "Cost-effectiveness of atorvastatin in the prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with stable coronary heart disease." Accessed on October 12, 2021. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3319770/
[3] PubMed. "Cost-effectiveness of switching patients from atorvastatin to generic simvastatin." Accessed on October 12, 2021. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22954062/