Two New Generic Drugs Available

July 2006

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved generic versions of two widely prescribed drugs. The first is simvastatin, a cholesterol-lowering drug that has been marketed by Merck under the brand name Zocor since its approval in 1991. Simvastatin is the second most widely prescribed drug in a class called statins. Other statins include lovastatin (brand name Mevacor) and pravastatin (Pravachol), which are also available as generic drugs, and atorvastatin (Lipitor) and rosuvastatin (Crestor), which are available only as brand-name drugs.

The generic drug manufacturer Ivax will sell 5-, 10-, 20-, and 40-mg doses, while Ranbaxy will sell 80-mg doses. Before generic versions of simvastatin were approved, the drug cost roughly $3 to $5 a pill, depending on the dose. The generic versions are expected to cost considerably less, and Merck is expected to cut the cost of Zocor to compete.

The second drug to be approved is a generic version of sertraline (Zoloft), a member of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class of antidepressants. Generic sertraline is made by Ivax and is available in 25-, 50-, and 100-mg doses. Other SSRIs, such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil), are also available in generic form.