Lipitor (Atorvastatin) News and Research

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Atorvastatin (INN) (Lipitor, Pfizer), is a member of the drug class known as statins, used for lowering blood cholesterol. It also stabilizes plaque and prevents strokes through anti-inflammatory and other mechanisms. Atorvastatin inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-determining enzyme located in hepatic tissue that produces mevalonate, a small molecule used in the synthesis of cholesterol and other mevalonate derivatives. This lowers the amount of cholesterol produced which in turn lowers the total amount of LDL cholesterol. Atorvastatin was first synthesized in 1985 by Bruce Roth while working at Parke-Davis Warner-Lambert Company (now Pfizer). With 2006 sales of US$12.9 billion, Lipitor is the largest-selling drug in the world.

Statins reduce risk of stroke and heart attack

People whose cholesterol improved after one month on cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins reduced their risk of stroke and heart attack, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 , May 5, 2007.

4 May 2007

Effect of Torcetrapib on the progression of coronary atherosclerosis

Investigators report that torcetrapib, a drug that substantially raises high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or HDL (the "good" cholesterol), did not slow the progression of plaque buildup in the coronary arteries as measured using an ultrasound probe (IVUS).

2 Apr 2007

Addition of torcetrapib to statin therapy has no benefit for atherosclerosis progression

For some patients with high cholesterol, even the most aggressive treatment with statin drugs fails to prevent coronary artery disease.

2 Apr 2007

Atorvastatin shows potential as a new treatment for spinal cord injuries

A multidisciplinary investigation led by Inderjit Singh, Ph.D, of the Medical University of South Carolina, has resulted in a new treatment of spinal cord injuries (SCI). The study investigates the efficacy of atorvastatin (AT), (i.e. Lipitor) as a treatment for spinal cord injuries following trauma.

22 Mar 2007

Lipitor given the green light for more heart risk patients

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. has given approval for the best seller drug Lipitor to be used in five new categories.

8 Mar 2007

Study compares Lipitor with Simvastatin

A retrospective analysis of a large U.S. managed care database showed that patients who took Pfizer's cholesterol-lowering medicine Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) Tablets had a significant 14 percent reduction in the risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes, compared with patients who took simvastatin.

5 Mar 2007

Danish court injunction prohibits sale of generic Lipitor

Pfizer has announced that a Danish court has granted a preliminary injunction against Nomeco A/S -- the largest pharmaceutical wholesaler in Denmark -- that prohibits the sale of a generic version of Lipitor by generics manufacturer Ranbaxy.

25 Feb 2007

High-dose Lipitor therapy cuts risk of hospitalizations for heart failure

Patients with coronary heart disease who took Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) 80 mg tablets reduced their risk of hospitalizations due to heart failure compared to patients taking the 10 mg dose of Lipitor, according to a new analysis of a subset of patients from the five-year TNT (Treating to New Targets) study, published in today's issue of Circulation.

7 Feb 2007

Statins show extra benefit in raising "good" HDL cholesterol levels

New research suggests that popular statin drugs may not only lower levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol but also raise levels of "good" HDL cholesterol.

7 Feb 2007

TV ads for drugs high on the emotions but low on facts

According to a new study television commercials for prescription drugs are heavily loaded on the emotional side but offer scant information on the disease itself and do little to promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

30 Jan 2007

Favorable decision for Ranbaxy on Atorvastatin patent in Canada

Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited announced that the Federal Court of Canada has handed down a favorable decision in the company's case against Pfizer by finding invalid Pfizer's Canadian atorvastatin patent CA 2,021,546.

28 Jan 2007

Pfizer stops all Torcetrapib trials

On December 2, 2006, FDA was notified that Pfizer will suspend a large, Phase 3 trial evaluating the investigational cardiovascular therapy torceptrapib/atorvastatin (T/A) due to an increased rate of mortality (death) in patients receiving the combination compared to those receiving atorvastatin alone.

4 Dec 2006

Pfizer provides opinion on European Lipitor patent

Pfizer has said that the European Patent Office (EPO) has issued an opinion upholding, in its entirety, the company's calcium salt patent covering Lipitor.

30 Oct 2006

Spanish patent victory favoring Ranbaxy on Atorvastatin unaffected

Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited said today that recently, in two separate rulings, the Spanish courts (the Mercantile Court of Barcelona, No. 2) found Spanish patent ES 2,167,306 (counterpart of Pfizer's EP 409 281) to be invalid for lack of novelty.

30 Oct 2006

Austrian patent office rules in Pfizer's Favor for Lipitor patent

Pfizer has announced that the Austrian Patent Office has ruled that a claim in the company's basic patent covering the use of atorvastatin, the active ingredient in Lipitor, would be infringed by generic manufacturer Ranbaxy.

19 Oct 2006

Now OK to get prescription drugs from Canada, but is it really?

According to the consumer group that sponsored "Rx Express" trains to Canada, the U.S. Customs announcement that it will no longer seize prescription drugs being shipped to the U.S. is not the solution that patients need.

5 Oct 2006

Combating generics: pharmaceutical brand defense for 2007

Court cases regarding patent infringement effectively slow generics in coming to market, however US lawmakers and FDA continue to make it easier for generic drugs to gain approval (Cutting Edge Information).

21 Sep 2006

More physicians now visit web sites to find information on brand-name prescription drugs

An increased number of physicians visited Web sites that promote brand-name prescription drugs during the first six months of 2006 to seek information about dosages and side effects, according to a recent Manhattan Research study, the Newark Star-Ledger reports.

18 Sep 2006

Ranbaxy invalidates Pfizer's 281 patent in Holland

Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (Ranbaxy) has announced that The District Court of The Hague has handed down a decision in Ranbaxy's case against (Pfizer) Warner-Lambert over the cholesterol-lowering drug, atorvastatin, which is marketed by Pfizer as Lipitor(R).

14 Sep 2006

Dutch court upholds Lipitor patent

Pfizer said today that the District Court of The Hague in the Netherlands has ruled that the basic patent covering atorvastatin - the active ingredient in Lipitor - would be infringed by a competitor product from generics manufacturer Ranbaxy.

13 Sep 2006