Liptruzet: No Better than Generic Atorvastatin Alone

Don't you love irony?  The pharmaceutical industry news was dominated this past Friday by news of the Food & Drug Administration's approval of Merck's Liptruzet, a combination of generic atorvastatin (formerly sold under the brand name of Lipitor by competitor, Pfizer) and ezetimibe (Merck's cholesterol absorption inhibitor sold by itself as Zetia) for use by those with high cholesterol.

Typically, the FDA approves a drug because it offers some benefit over current treatments.  At other times, the FDA approves a drug because it offers an alternative to current treatments.  I guess the FDA chose the latter because in each article I read regarding this new drug, it's clearly mentioned that "No incremental benefit of Liptruzet on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality over and above that demonstrated for atorvastatin has been established".  Which begs the question, if Liptruzet is no better than generic atorvastatin, then why pay the inflated differential for a branded medication over a much less expensive generic?  

By the way, this lack of benefit from ezetimibe should not come as a surprise because ongoing studies sponsored by its manufacturer, Merck, have failed to demonstrate any clinical outcome benefit when used in isolation or when taken in combination with Merck's simvastatin.  So think twice in case your doctor offers you the latest in cholesterol lowering drugs.

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