AstraZeneca today announced the acquisition of Crestor, the world’s first LDL-cholesterol-lowering drug, to be its second acquisition. AstraZeneca has received tentative approval from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Crestor, which was developed by AstraZeneca and the world’s leading pharmaceutical company.
Crestor is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe atherosclerosis, a condition affecting up to 50% of the population, and to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. It has been shown in clinical trials that Crestor may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular events, particularly in patients who have a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.
“Today’s acquisition marks the first milestone in the ongoing development of a leading cardiovascular treatment,” said AstraZeneca Chief Executive Officer Martin Sulman, President and Chief Executive Officer of AstraZeneca. “Crestor is the world’s leading first-line LDL-cholesterol-lowering drug and has become one of the most important first-line therapies worldwide. With its significant role in the treatment of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular conditions, we are pleased to now have access to Crestor.”
“We are excited to acquire AstraZeneca’s first-line LDL-cholesterol-lowering drug,” said John Lechleiter, Chief Executive Officer of AstraZeneca. “This acquisition represents another major step in our strategic effort to develop a first-line therapy to treat patients with LDL-C levels below 70 mg/dL and risk factors for cardiovascular disease.”
Crestor, as of today, is available as a generic or a branded tablet, with a 5-milligram tablet available as a pack of 20, 30, or 60 tablets. AstraZeneca is a leading global pharmaceutical company with a strong relationship with the well-known cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor, a blockbuster cholesterol-lowering drug. The drug is a member of the PDE5 inhibitor class of drugs that block the enzyme that breaks down cholesterol in the body.
Crestor is the world’s first generic drug approved for use in the United States, and its introduction into the U. market has already been a catalyst for AstraZeneca’s growth. With a compound annual cost of approximately $10 billion and annual sales of approximately $500 million, Crestor has earned AstraZeneca billions in sales. In addition to its established sales in the United States, Crestor has generated more than $300 million in worldwide sales in the last twelve years.
“Today’s acquisition marks a significant milestone for AstraZeneca, as we have already established a strong commercial presence in the United States and have continued to increase our presence globally,” said Sulman. “Crestor continues to be a key player in the development of new treatments for cardiovascular disease. This acquisition is a major step in the right direction for AstraZeneca and will provide the company with the opportunity to continue to expand our market presence.”
The acquisition of Crestor will be subject to customary closing conditions and customary closing dates. It is expected to close in the second half of the year, with the expiration of its patent in early 2024, and potential sale to wholesalers under the trade name Crestor.
Crestor is available in tablet form and in a pack of 10, 20, 30, or 60 tablets. The pack contains 20 tablets of 20, 30, or 60 mg of Crestor and the pack contains 20, 30, or 60 mg of a generic formulation, which is identical to the tablet formulation.
The Crestor tablet is a 10, 20, 30, or 60 mg/tablet-pack, which contains 20, 30, or 60 mg of a generic formulation of the drug.
Crestor, also known as rosuvastatin, is a widely prescribed medication for the management of cholesterol levels. It belongs to a class of drugs called statins.
The global Crestor market is experiencing significant growth, driven by several key factors. It is alsoreaming up as a dominant pharmaceutical solution. A significant growth potential exists from the coming years, with a market growth rate of 6.7% CAGR for the first quarter of 2023 to 4.5% CAGR during the same quarter of 2020[1][4].
The Crestor market is segmented of generic drugs, which represent a significant segment due to the high cost and the difficulty in obtaining generic drugs. Generic drugs are medications with a lower price and have a monotherapy approach. Generics account for around 70% of the market share, with special considerations for patients with pre-existing medical conditions or those taking specific medications. Commonly used generic drugs include simvastol (Orap), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and valsartan/salmeterol (Valsartan/Valsol). These generic drugs are prescribed for patients with liver dysfunction or for patients with established cardiovascular diseases. Generic drugs are taken orally for specific indications such as asyanth promo (Pravachol) or rosiglitazone/ simvastatin (Zocor).[1] Generic drugs are processed by the liver into usable drugs, which are then excreted in the bloodstream through the kidneys. They are usually taken in a dosage form that is easy to transport and distribute through the body. The Crestor market is witnessing significant growth due to several key factors:
The pricing of Crestor varies significantly depending on the pharmacy and the dosage. The generic versions of Crestor are generally more affordable compared to the brand name. There are multiple generic versions available, with the simvastatin version being the more popular among consumers. The pricing of generic Crestor can vary based on the dosage and the quantity purchased. Generic Crestor tablets are typically priced between $10 to $40 for a 400 mg dose and between $12.50 and $25 for a 800 mg dose[5].
The Crestor market is witnessing significant growth driven by several key factors. As the healthcare sector expands, the demand for Crestor increases, as does the adoption of generic medications. Generic Crestor is becoming increasingly popular due to its cost-effective and fast-acting nature. Generic Crestor is also being widely available, with prices starting at around $20 for a 500 mg dose[5].
The cost of Crestor can also play a significant part in determining the price of the medication. Generics and brand-name drugs are charged for the same product, which means a competitive price will exist. The generic versions of Crestor are available over the counter (no prescription needed).
Despite the growth potential, the market faces several challenges. The lack of regulation and awareness about cholesterol-lowering medications and their side effects are significant challenges.
Ricord and its generic brand Crestor have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used in the treatment of high cholesterol, according to the company's annual report on drug usage from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
The company has also stated that it will begin marketing the generic version of Crestor on November 2.
Ricord's patent on Crestor was set to expire on June 15, 2018, but has been available for patent protection for several years.
In January 2024, Pfizer Inc. and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. voluntarily entered an agreement to market generic versions of Crestor and Lipitor (the generic name of the brand) for the treatment of cholesterol. The agreement will allow Pfizer to begin marketing generic versions of the two medications in the first quarter of 2025.
Pfizer and Teva are the first to apply for the FDA's approval of generic versions of Lipitor and Crestor.
The companies are expected to submit the drug applications for marketing authorization in late January 2025.
Ricord has received more than $10 billion in federal and state drug marketing assistance since it was launched in the United States in 2013.
The companies have said that their plans to expand sales of the generic versions of Crestor and Lipitor are for ongoing clinical trials to assess whether the new versions of Crestor will have any additional benefit for patients.
Pfizer said it was reviewing the potential marketing applications and that it was not aware of any of the pending clinical studies.
It was not immediately clear if the company will be able to provide further details about its strategy for marketing the generic version of Crestor and Lipitor to patients.
The FDA has already approved the use of the generic Crestor, which is the generic version of the drug's brand name drug Lipitor, in the treatment of cholesterol.
The generic Lipitor, the only brand name of the drug Lipitor in the United States, is also the branded version of Crestor, the most commonly used drug used in the United States.
Pfizer said the U. S. Food and Drug Administration's approval of the generic versions of Lipitor and Crestor was due to the active ingredient, Lipitor, being the most common ingredient used in the drug.
The company said that it will continue to promote the generic versions of both Crestor and Lipitor to patients, while adding that the company will continue to offer the same level of patient care to patients, including follow-up appointments and consultations with doctors.
Ricord said it was aware of clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of the generic versions of both drugs.
The company said it will continue to market the product in the United States.
According to Pfizer, the company will begin marketing the generic version of Crestor in the first quarter of 2023.
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Q.I’m about to read a letter from my wife. It was about Crestor. It was about the other thing I’m about to do and the cost of the drug.
The letters were about a bottle of generic CVS.
“You can’t eat with Crestor,” I said. “You can’t use it without it.”
She said. “What about a bottle of generic CVS?”
“We’re not eating.”
“Can’t you see if that’s the case?”
“No, I can’t see. We can’t eat together. I can’t even eat with Crestor. I’m going to get to that point.”
The letters are from an expert.
He said the cost was about $10,000,000. I asked why the letter was written, and he said the letter was about to say “you can’t eat with Crestor,” not about the drug.
“It’s not about that. It’s about the drug,” he said. “It’s not about a bottle of generic CVS. It’s about the drug. It’s about the drug, and there are other options. We have to use it. There are other treatments.”
He said he can’t explain how the letter would have come into effect if it hadn’t been written. He said he was about to have a surgery to remove plaque from the back of his head.
I said, “No, we can’t. It’s just a bottle.”
He said I could probably tell by the letters that I’m not the right person for this. He said he had no idea what the letters meant. He said it had to have a medical explanation.
He said I asked my wife about the other drugs.
I said, “No, we can’t.”
He said he wanted to talk to my wife and ask her to meet with her.
He said he thought Crestor was worth $5,000,000. He said he was not surprised that it was.
“We don’t know how much it will cost,” he said. “We don’t know when it will be out. It’s just not that expensive.”
I asked him if there were any other drugs I didn’t know about, including Lipitor and Zocor.
He said he couldn’t remember the name of the other drugs. I asked if there were any other drugs he didn’t know.
He said he didn’t want to go to a doctor’s office, so he didn’t have any kind of an answer.
He said I asked him if I could go to the doctor’s office. He said I said he had to go and see the doctor. I asked if he knew what his name was.
He said I asked if he was going to see the doctor’s office. He said he knew. He said I asked if he knew I was going to the doctor’s office.
He said I asked if I could go to the doctor’s office.
He said I asked if I could go to the doctor’s office and ask him what the problem was. He said I asked if he knew what his name was.
Stade de France Pharmacy