Teva
has launched the first generic Lipitor in the UK on the day the drug loses its
patent protection. Teva’s pill comes in 10mg,
20mg, 40mg and 80mg strengths and will cost 14 times less than the branded
drug.
A 28-pack of low-dose 10mg Lipitor currently costs the NHS £13, but Teva is
offering its low dose form of the drug at just 91 pence. The highest price for atorvastatin is £2.26 for the high dose 80mg for a
month’s supply, compared to £28.21 for Lipitor.
Kim Innes, commercial director at Teva, said: “We’re delighted to be able
to launch atorvastatin in the UK on the day its patent expires. “Millions of prescriptions are written each year in the UK for
atorvastatin, and the availability of the generic will save the NHS millions of
pounds each year,” she added.
The NHS in England spent over £310 million on the anti-cholesterol drug
last year, making it the second highest spend on any drug treatment. But the NHS can look forward to substantial savings from generic copies now
that Pfizer’s drug has lost patent protection.