Press Releases: National
November 8, 2004
Kaiser Permanente Research: Generic Statin Drugs Produce Similar—or Better—Results than Brand-Name Drug
OAKLAND, Calif. – Researchers from Kaiser Permanente's Northern California region are presenting a study at this week's American Heart Association Scientific Sessions showing that patients who use a generic statin drug rather than its brand-name equivalent fared as well as—sometimes better than—patients on the more expensive drug.
The study of 33,000 patients observed their health after a switch from the brand name drug simvastatin (Zocor) to lovastatin (Mevacor) over a 12-month period. According to the study's lead author, Eleanor Levin, MD, Chief of Cardiology for Kaiser Permanente in Northern California, "All of the participants maintained the same cholesterol levels using lovastatin as under the simvastatin regime, and some saw their LDL levels improve."
In the primary prevention group involved in the study, LDL cholesterol fell on average from 119.4 on the brand-name drug to 116.6 on lovastatin, while HDL ("good" cholesterol) rose from 50.9 on simvastatin to 53.0 on lovastatin. The secondary prevention group showed similar results; LDL cholesterol fell from 101.1 to 99.0 after the transition from brand-name to generic statin, while HDL rose from 45.7 to 48.1.
In addition to better health for Kaiser Permanente patients, successful conversion to a generic drug will lead to better outcomes for low-income patients and the nation's health in general, as Dr. Levin outlined. "As many as 20 percent of patients in the US say they don't fill prescriptions because they can't afford them. As physicians, the main thing that stands between us and the effectiveness of the medication regime we prescribe is the issue of affordability for our patients. Statins can't prevent heart attack and stroke unless you take them," she said.
Co-author David Campen, MD, emphasized the economic benefits of the study's conclusions. "High cholesterol is one of the most common diseases in the United States. In 2003, more than $12 billion was spent on this class of drugs in the U.S. alone. This study shows that generic statins are just as effective as their brand name counterparts at a fraction of the cost. This sends the message to people dealing with huge drug bills - ask your doctor about the generic alternative rather than the drug you see advertised on TV."
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.
