How significant is lipitor's price difference?

How much cheaper are generics than the original Lipitor?

Generic atorvastatin costs 80-95% less than brand-name Lipitor. At typical retail pharmacies, a 30-day supply of 20 mg tablets sells for $10-20 for the generic versus $200-300 for the brand.

What drives the price gap?

Brand-name drugs recover research and development costs plus marketing expenses through high prices before generic competitors arrive. Once patents expire, multiple manufacturers enter the market and drive prices down through competition.

How long did Lipitor's patent last?

Lipitor's primary U.S. patent expired November 30, 2011. The first generic versions reached pharmacies weeks later.

What happened to prices right after patent expiry?

Prices fell more than 90% in the months following November 2011. Data from that time show a 30-day supply of 20 mg atorvastatin dropping from $160 to under $15.

Are there still brand-name versions sold today?

Pfizer continues to sell branded Lipitor in some markets. Patients sometimes choose the brand for perceived consistency or insurance coverage reasons, but most prescriptions fill with generics.

When will next-generation competitors arrive?

No new patent-protected atorvastatin formulations are currently in late-stage clinical trials.