Generics Genesis: Patent Expires for Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Lipitor

November 30, 2011

With sales of more than $100 billion since it was introduced in 1997, the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin) is an unparalleled pharmaceutical superstar. But as its patent expires on November 30 and its first generic competitor takes the stage, Lipitor is also a painful reminder of the challenge that such `patent cliffs’ pose for the big drug companies, including Lipitor’s developer Pfizer, based in New York. (Scientific American)