Statins and Generics Lower Costs and Improve Patient Outcomes

Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the U.S. , with an annual cost of about $252 billion in both direct and indirect expenses (2019–2020).^{1 2}

However, the development of innovative statins, along with the introduction of generic options, has significantly altered the landscape of cardiovascular care. Not only have these medications reduced health care system costs in both the short and long term, but they’ve also improved outcomes for patients.

Statins, alongside other cardiovascular medications, have played a key role in fighting heart disease. Since their introduction, they’ve helped reduce cardiovascular disease events by 25% and overall mortality by 16%.³ The advent of generics in 2001 made these lifesaving medications more accessible and affordable for patients, as well as for the health care system as a whole.

Today, approximately one-third of American adults rely on statins, making them one of the most commonly prescribed classes of medication.⁴ These cholesterol-lowering drugs continue to be highly effective for a wide range of patients, offering both low upfront costs and the potential for preventing serious cardiovascular events.

The cost savings from statins following the introduction of generics have been substantial, with total savings (including both direct and indirect costs) now reaching $41 billion per year.⁵