See the DrugPatentWatch profile for lipitor

Based on the information available, there are several non-statin drugs that share similar mechanisms with Lipitor (atorvastatin) in terms of their actions on the liver. Lipitor is a statin drug that lowers cholesterol levels by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the liver's production of cholesterol [1].

Non-statin drugs that replicate Lipitor's liver actions include:

1. Ezetimibe (Zetia): Ezetimibe inhibits the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine, which in turn reduces the amount of cholesterol that reaches the liver [2]. However, ezetimibe can be used in combination with statins like Lipitor to enhance cholesterol-lowering effects.
2. Bile acid sequestrants: These drugs, such as cholestyramine, colestipol, and colesevelam, work by binding to bile acids in the intestines, preventing their reabsorption, and promoting their excretion [3]. As a result, the liver increases the production of bile acids from cholesterol, thereby reducing cholesterol levels in the body.
3. PCSK9 inhibitors: Drugs like alirocumab and evolocumab are monoclonal antibodies that inhibit PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9), a protein that regulates the number of LDL receptors on the liver's surface [4]. By inhibiting PCSK9, these drugs increase the number of LDL receptors, allowing the liver to remove more LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream.

In summary, ezetimibe, bile acid sequestrants, and PCSK9 inhibitors share similar mechanisms with Lipitor in terms of their actions on the liver, either by reducing cholesterol production, increasing cholesterol excretion, or enhancing LDL cholesterol removal from the bloodstream.

Sources:

[1] <https://www.drugs.com/lipitor.html>
[2] <https://www.drugs.com/zetia.html>
[3] <https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/bile-acid-sequestrants/art-20046733>
[4] <https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-fda-approval-alirocumab-and-evolocumab-pcsk9-inhibitors-treat-high-cholesterol>
[5] <https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/>