You may have seen price spikes for the popular drug Crestor recently, but generic versions of Crestor, will soon be available to patients at a much lower price. An article from Bloomberg states that this may happen as early as May 2016. The FDA approved Crestor in 2007 as breakthrough drug that helps patients reduce heart attacks, stroke, and cardiac death by inhibiting the progression of cardiovascular disease by lowering LDL cholesterol.
The current retail price of Crestor at over $300 poses a barrier for patients with insurance plans that do not cover the full cost of the drug. The good news however, is that the patent protection on Crestor was set to expire in January of 2016, making way for cheaper generic versions with the same lifesaving therapeutic benefits.
Crestor Pills
Crestor Breakthrough
Crestor belongs to a family of drugs called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, which have been proven to be effective at lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. The active ingredient of Crestor, rosuvastatin calcium, is a statin medication that lowers cholesterol by blocking enzymes in the liver that make excess cholesterol, and by increasing the breakdown and intake of cholesterol in the liver. Patients that are overweight and have high levels of LDL cholesterol accumulate fatty plaque in the inner walls of vital arteries overtime, which can develop into cardiovascular disease. Crestor helps reduce the amount of LDL cholesterol and the accumulation of new plaque from damaging vital arteries when used in combination with diet and exercise. Through this unique mechanism, Crestor significantly reduces the likelihood of heart attacks, stroke, and cardiac death in patients at risk.
Affordable Crestor Generics
The patent expiration for Crestor will allow other pharmaceutical companies to manufacturer a copy of this cholesterol therapy, using the exact chemical compounds that deliver the exact mechanism of action. What this means for patients, is that they will be able to purchase generic versions for 80-85% less than the average cost of the Crestor name brand. Manufacturers of generic drugs can offer lower prices because they do not spend money on advertising, marketing, or promotion costs needed to educate the public or doctors about a new therapy. They also do not have the costs of researching and developing a new drug.
After the Crestor patent expires in January 2016, patients will be able to access the generic in 2016 or early 2017, although the release could be much sooner depending on approval by the FDA. To save on Crestor in the meantime, consider using our free Crestor Discount Coupon available on our Crestor Drug Page.
