Slide Presentation of the 2007 Annual Meeting of AHRQ

The Statins

• Introduction of generics: changing marketplace
• Huge stakes: $8 billion for Medicare beneficiaries alone
• Major health consequences of greater affordability

Notes:

Statins is the category that is has the most consistently high level of user interest.
It is the category that probably has the largest potential savings, on a national basis, from switching to more cost-effective drugs.
Recent generic availability of Zocor/simvastatin, key factor.
National potential savings huge
Health consequences are huge as well: drug more affordable for more who need them.
Recently released an analysis of the market trends showing the increase in sales of newly available generic statins.
Stakes are high!