Lipitor Articles

Lipitor Fights Back to Hold Its Market Share

16 November 2006

We all know and are aware that high cholesterol increases the risks of heart disease. But having too little of a certain type of cholesterol can be hazardous as well, and currently there isn't much doctors can do, except urge their patients to lose weight and exercise.

According to a report in 2004, the world market for anti cholesterol drugs was worth over $25 billion, making the anti cholesterol drugs the most successful therapeutic area in the world.

The cholesterol medication called the Statins continues to dominate the market. Lipitor is the best selling drug in the world for cholesterol treatment as well as in all drug classes. But now Lipitor market supremacy, along with that of drug giant Pfizer Inc. is at risk as competitors pose unparalleled threats with generic competition, aggressive research and development efforts and high-profile deals with national insurers.

The launch of Crestor will have an effect on the market revenues of all statins including Lipitor. Pfizer Inc., the world's largest drug maker, outlined its plans to change that by combining its best-selling Lipitor cholesterol-lowering drug with another drug that boosts the "good" type of cholesterol. They're also looking to bolster Pfizer's drug pipeline, renew Lipitor promotions and to hold onto the patent that expires in 2010, that gives the company exclusive rights to sell the drug.

Prescription drugs are one of the major factors in the skyrocketing cost of health care, and cholesterol drugs are major contributors. Pfizer currently racks up almost $10 -12 billion a year in Lipitor sales. By introducing a new formulation incorporating Lipitor, Pfizer hopes to extend its patent protection and ward off generic competitors who would force prices lower.

The number of people needing cholesterol-lowering prescription drugs is expected to grow to 16 million by 2010. Generics are expected to garner a larger share once Pfizer loses the patent protection in another few years.

The American Heart Association has pegged the number of Americans with low HDL at more than 53 million. The condition shows up most often among those who develop heart disease at an early age and is associated with a predisposition to diabetes.

Lescol is yet anti cholesterol drug and is one of six prescription drugs known as statins. Lescol blocks the production of cholesterol in the body. Lescol lowers LDL by an average of 38 percent after just 4 weeks. Do not take Lescol without first consultation with your doctor if you have liver disease.