Mylan Selling Generic Lipitor in Europe - Drug Discovery and Development

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Mylan Inc. said May 11 that it is selling a low-cost generic version of the cholesterol drug Lipitor in five European countries.

Mylan said it is selling its generic version in the U.K., Ireland, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The company is marketing its version of Lipitor, or atorvastatin, in strengths of 10 milligrams, 20 milligrams, 40 milligrams, and 80 milligrams. It said sales of Lipitor in those countries totaled $1.6 billion in 2011.

Pfizer Inc.’s Lipitor has been the biggest-selling drug in the world, with annual sales of as much as $13 billion. U.S. patent protection on the drug ended on Nov. 30.

Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. makes the authorized generic version in the U.S., and India’s Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. is selling the only other approved version of the drug. Mylan and other generic drug companies will be allowed to sell their own versions of Lipitor in the United States starting in June.

Source: The Associated Press