See the DrugPatentWatch profile for lipitor

The potency of Lipitor and its generic equivalents is not expected to differ significantly, as generic drugs must demonstrate therapeutic equivalence to their brand-name counterparts before receiving approval from regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) [1].

Lipitor, a medication used to treat high cholesterol, is a brand-name drug manufactured by Pfizer, while its active ingredient is atorvastatin. Once the patent for Lipitor expired in 2011, other pharmaceutical companies were allowed to produce and market generic versions of atorvastatin [1].

According to DrugPatentWatch.com, the patent for Lipitor expired in November 2011, allowing generic manufacturers to enter the market [2]. Since then, multiple pharmaceutical companies have released their generic versions of atorvastatin, which are required to have the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form, and route of administration as Lipitor [1].

The FDA mandates that generic drugs undergo rigorous testing and clinical trials to prove they are therapeutically equivalent to their brand-name counterparts [1]. This means that the generic version of atorvastatin should have the same therapeutic effect as Lipitor, assuming the same dosage is administered [1].

However, there may be minor differences between Lipitor and its generic counterparts, such as inactive ingredients, manufacturing processes, or physical appearance [1]. These differences should not affect the drug's potency or therapeutic effect [1].

In summary, the potency of Lipitor and its generic equivalents should be comparable, as generic drugs must meet strict FDA guidelines for therapeutic equivalence [1]. The patent for Lipitor expired in 2011, allowing other manufacturers to produce and market generic atorvastatin [2].

Sources:
[1] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021). Generic Drugs: Questions and Answers. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/drugs/generic-drugs/generic-drugs-questions-and-answers
[2] DrugPatentWatch.com. (2022). Lipitor (Atorvastatin) Patent Expiration & Generics. Retrieved from https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/patent/lipitor-atorvastatin/