The adjustment of Lipitor, a medication used to treat high cholesterol, was likely due to several factors, including patent expiration and generic competition.

Lipitor, also known as atorvastatin, is a prescription medication that lowers cholesterol levels in the blood. It belongs to a class of drugs called statins, which work by blocking the production of cholesterol in the body. Lipitor was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996 and quickly became one of the best-selling drugs in the world.

However, in November 2011, the patent for Lipitor expired, allowing generic versions of the drug to enter the market. This led to a significant decline in sales for Pfizer, the company that manufactures Lipitor. In response to this, Pfizer implemented several strategies to maintain its market share, including offering discounts and rebates to patients and healthcare providers.

In addition to the patent expiration, there were also concerns about the safety of Lipitor. In 2012, the FDA issued a safety warning about the increased risk of diabetes associated with Lipitor and other statins. This warning may have contributed to the decline in Lipitor prescriptions and the subsequent adjustment of the drug's marketing and distribution strategies.

In summary, the adjustment of Lipitor was likely due to a combination of factors, including the patent expiration, generic competition, and safety concerns. These factors led Pfizer to implement new strategies to maintain its market share and continue to provide this important medication to patients.

Sources:

* <https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/tradename/LIPITOR>
* <https://reference.medscape.com/drug/lipitor-atorvaliq-atorvastatin-342446>
* <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430779/>