EnU.S. imports of statins, a class of drugs used to treat high cholesterol, jumped 39.5% in October vs. a year earlier, Panjiva data shows. This was the fastest rate of growth since January and the highest level of imports for the month of October since at least 2007.
Analysis of the four largest types of statins by revenues ( pravastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin) are seasonal, with the most recent peak in May. This growth has largely been driven by imports of rosuvastatin, the generic version of AstraZeneca’s Crestor which went “off-patent” in April 2016. The main loser from the availability of cheap rosuvastatin has been simvastatin, the generic version of Merck’s Zocor.
Source: Panjiva
The previous statin to go off-patent was Pfizer’s Lipitor. Since it became available as a generic in November 2011, imports of atorvastatin have steadily increased and were the most imported in the six months to October 31. This had the effect that Pfizer’s revenues from the drug fell to $422 million in the third quarter of 2016 from $2.60 billion in the third quarter of 2011, an 84% decline.
AstraZeneca is seeing a similar pattern. Its revenues from Crestor fell 48% to $688 million in the third quarter, reported November 10, from $1.32 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015. More of the same is likely – imports of rosuvastatin by generic drug makers were 295% higher in the three months to October 31 than in the first quarter.
Source: Panjiva
The largest exporters of generic statins are based in India and eastern Europe, Panjiva data shows. While the largest single exporter to the U.S. over the past 12 months has been Dr.Reddy’s, the fastest growth in the past three months has been Glenmark. This has left it as the number two exporter to the U.S. (by shipment volume) alongside Lupin.
Source: Panjiva
