Content about Lipitor

SUPPLIER NEWS — Pharmacy technology provider PDX is partnering with Mscripts to allow existing PDX Classic and Enterprise Pharmacy System customers to add mobile to their customer-facing offerings, the companies said. The features will give pharmacies an outreach channel to improve their bin management and will-call services, as well as allow them to easily identify aging prescriptions and use the Mscripts mobile application to remind customers to pick up their prescriptions.


NEW YORK — Though they've been on the market for less than a month, the generic and authorized generic versions of Pfizer's cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor have captured more than one-tenth of prescriptions, according to published reports.

Citing an analysis of data from IMS Health by J.P. Morgan, The Wall Street Journal reported that Ranbaxy's generic atorvastatin calcium tablets and Watson Pharmaceuticals' authorized generic have claimed about 14.6% of prescription volume since their launch on Nov. 30.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — With annual sales gaining on the $8 billion mark in the United States alone, according to IMS Health, Lipitor (atorvastatin) is the top-selling drug in the world, and the price markdown that Ranbaxy Labs’ launch (and subsequent generic launches) will bring, greatly will expand its accessibility. So it’s no surprise that it has attracted so much media attention over the past few weeks.

NEW YORK — Pfizer's efforts to protect the sales of its blockbuster cholesterol drug Lipitor have attracted scrutiny from members of Congress, according to published reports.

The New York Times reported Thursday that three senators — Max Baucus, D-Mont.; Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; and Herb Kohl, D-Wis. — had asked Pfizer and five other companies to provide details of their agreements to prevent dispensing of generic versions of Lipitor (atorvastatin) and dispense only the branded version.

NEW YORK — Pfizer is looking to sell its top-selling cholesterol drug directly to consumers at a greatly reduced price after the patent expires, according to published reports.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Pfizer would partner with health plans to sell Lipitor (atorvastatin) directly to consumers through the mail when the drug's patent expires at the end of the month, opening the drug to generic competition.

In February, Drug Store News discussed three issues concerning generic drugs that would figure prominently throughout the year: drug safety, user fees and patent settlements.



As the clock winds down on the patent exclusivity of the industry’s biggest blockbuster drug in November, speculation continues to grow that Pfizer will look to flip the switch on an OTC version of Lipitor (atorvastatin) before generic competition whittles away at the $7 billion behemoth. 


NEW YORK — Ranbaxy Labs will launch its generic version of the world's top-selling drug as originally planned, according to published reports.

Citing Japan's Nikkei daily, Reuters reported that Gurgaon, India-based Ranbaxy would launch a generic version of Pfizer's cholesterol medication Lipitor (atorvastatin) at the end of November.

NEW YORK — While Indian generic drug maker Ranbaxy Labs is expected by many to launch a generic version of a cholesterol drug made by Pfizer later this year, it may have to sell its rights to it if it can't win Food and Drug Administration approval in time, according to published reports.

Citing Credit Suisse analysts, Bloomberg reported that the FDA may delay approval of Ranbaxy's version of Lipitor (atorvastatin), which would prevent it from marketing the drug starting Nov. 30, as it has planned to do.

NEW YORK — The world's top-selling drug may become available over the counter, if its manufacturer has its way, according to published reports.

The New York Times reported that Pfizer may be looking for Food and Drug Administration approval for an OTC switch for Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium), a cholesterol-lowering medication. The Times quoted an unnamed source as providing the information, though Pfizer declined to comment.

WASHINGTON — Five senators have issued a letter to Food and Drug Administration commissioner Margaret Hamburg to expand Americans' access to affordable medications by avoiding the delay of generic drug approvals.

ATHENS, Ga. — A drug used to treat high cholesterol, which will lose patent protection and face generic competition starting this year, also may help prevent blindness in people with diabetes, according to a study by researchers at the University of Georgia.