Content about Statins

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Generic drug maker Actavis has reached a deal with AstraZeneca that will allow it to launch a version of a drug used to treat cholesterol in three years, Actavis said Monday.

Under a deal to settle a patent-infringement lawsuit, Actavis will be allowed to launch its generic version of Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium) tablets in the 5-mg, 10-mg, 20-mg and 40-mg strengths 67 days before July 8, 2016, when the drug's market exclusivity for use in children expires, at a fee of 39% of net sales to AstraZeneca.

PEAPACK, N.J. — Greenstone has launched an authorized generic version of a drug used to treat cholesterol.

Greenstone, the generics arm of Pfizer, announced the launch of authorized generic atorvastatin calcium tablets in the 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg and 80 mg strengths, in bottle sizes ranging from 90 to 1,000. The drug is a version of the parent company's cholesterol drug Lipitor.

An authorized generic is a brand marketed under its generic name at a reduced price.

NEW YORK — Ranbaxy Labs has recalled more than three dozen lots of its generic version of a cholesterol-lowering statin drug due to the possible presence of foreign particles, the company said.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Astrologers would say this is the Age of Pisces, while the Chinese zodiac calls it the Year of the Dragon. For health care, it might be a good time to start calling it the "Great Generic Epoch."

The trend seen in the Generic Drug Savings study, in which generic drugs count for an overwhelming majority of prescriptions written but only about one-quarter of drug spending, has been happening for some time now. But it's also accelerating, and that means a lot for drug makers and policy-makers alike.

DEERFIELD Ill. — A Walgreens study released Wednesday has found that patients starting high cholesterol medication for the first time who participated in enhanced face-to-face counseling sessions with a community pharmacist demonstrated better medication adherence than those who did not participate in the sessions.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Food and Drug Administration drug warnings can have an immediate negative impact on medication adherence among patients, even if the warnings are not safety related, according to new research sponsored by CVS Caremark.

NEW YORK — Pfizer apparently is relenting on its attempt to drive sales of its top cholesterol drug as several new generic versions look set to enter the market, according to published reports.

The Associated Press reported that Pfizer was "quietly" giving up on the drug Lipitor (atorvastatin) after an $87 million campaign to continue marketing the drug despite generic competition.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for lipid disorders made by Mylan, the company said Friday.

Mylan announced the approval and launch of fluvastatin capsules in the 20-mg and 40-mg strengths, a generic version of Novartis' Lescol. The drug is used to treat hypercholesterolemia and mixed dyslipidemia, as well as prevention of cardiovascular disease.

The drug had sales of $27.9 million in 2011, according to IMS Health.

The recent Food and Drug Administration public meeting on driving future switch potential by way of the pharmacist and/or health technology sparked some discussion on what’s next.


WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — One of the long-term goals of many drug companies has been to win Food and Drug Administration approval for cholesterol-lowering statins as over-the-counter drugs. But it's a goal that has long eluded them due to the agency's concerns about patient safety.

(THE NEWS: FDA mulls making some prescription drugs available over the counter. For the full story, click here.)

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Diabetes Association said it is urging people with diabetes who currently are taking a statin to continue their medication unless instructed otherwise by their healthcare provider.