Why is Zocor So Popular Even though it's Dangerous?

Zocor first came on the market in 1991. Since then, Zocor and its generic, Simvastatin, have become the most widely prescribed statins in the United States. But just last week, the FDA issued a new warning that the drug can cause severe muscle damage, which can lead to kidney failure and death. So why is Simvastatin so popular if it has these life-threatening side effects?

The simple answer is cost. Simvastatin is the only effective cholesterol-lowering drug on the market, available in a generic form. While there are more effective cholesterol-lowering drugs on the market, like Crestor, these drugs are available only under their brand names, meaning they are more expensive.

Pharmaceutical companies pump millions of dollars into the research and development of a new drug. By some estimates, it can take as long as 12 years before the drug even reaches the market.  After a pharmaceutical company develops a new drug to release on the market, it must go through the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office to receive a patent on the drug.  A patent on a prescription ususally lasts 20 years from the date of filing, during which time other companies are prohibited from using the same or a similar formula to develop a similar drug.  

Once the patent has expired, other pharmaceutical companies can then come in and take the original company's "recipe" for the drug and make their own version of it. Generic versions of drugs are not always the same as their brand name counterparts, but under Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, they must contain the same active ingredients, strength, and dosage forms.  

Because brand name drugs are typically the only drugs on the market of their kind, there is no competition to drive the price down, so pharmaceutical companies can charge seemingly exorbitant amounts. For example, a good quality prescription drug can run as much as $80 per prescription for a person who is uninsured, while the insured person ends up paying a high co-pay.

In contrast, generic drugs are more easily obtainable because usually more than one pharmaceutical company is manufacturing them, which increases competition and drives down prices. Both the uninsured and insured patient benefits from these medications because of the low cost and the benefits the drugs have for the patient's health. According to the FDA, generic drugs are usually 80 to 85 percent cheaper than their brand name equivalents. This is because the manufacturers of generic medications do not have to engage in a significant amount of research and development or advertising and marketing, because they do not have as many costs to recoup.

Unfortunately, until statins like Crestor go off patent for generic competition, these newer, perhaps safer statins will continue to cost consumers more.

The FDA recommends that you talk to your doctor before you stop taking Zocor, Vytorin, Simcor, or any related generic of simvastatin.

If you or a loved one has taken or is taking Zocor, Vytorin, Simcor, or one of its generic equivalents and has experienced severe muscle damage, contact Van Wey Law today.