Currently, there is no generic Lipitor available. Pfizer's patent for Lipitor expires in 2010; once that patent expires, other companies will be allowed to make generic versions of Lipitor. Although there is no generic for Lipitor yet, there are generic versions of other cholesterol medications that are currently available. These include pravastatin, lovastatin, and simvastatin.
Lipitor is manufactured by Pfizer. It is currently protected by a patent that prevents any generic Lipitor from being manufactured.
Yet, if you search the Internet for "generic Lipitor" or "generic atorvastatin" (which is the generic name for Lipitor), you may find a number of companies selling it. The fact is that these medicines are fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. You should not buy any generic form of Lipitor until there is an approved generic version available.
When Will Generic Lipitor Be Available?
The first patent for Lipitor currently expires in March 2010.
This is the earliest date that a generic version of Lipitor could become available. However, other circumstances could cause the exclusivity period to extend beyond 2010. This could include such things as other patents for specific Lipitor uses or lawsuits. Once Lipitor goes off-patent, several companies will most likely begin manufacturing a generic Lipitor drug.
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