Clinical & Experimental Cardiology
Open Access

Abstract

Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of generic rosuvastatin compared with the brand in patients with stable coronary artery disease

Rehab ElHiny, Amr S. Amin, Hend M. Moness, Sahar B. Hassan, Mohamed M. Abdel-Latif, Hatem A. Sarhan

Background: Statins are the mainstay drugs that are widely used to lower lipid levels among patients with cardiovascular diseases. Cost-effectiveness is questionable among branded and generic market products.

Aim: The study aims to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the branded and generic rosuvastatin products available in the Egyptian market.

Patients and methods: Ninety patients with stable coronary artery disease (low to intermediate risk ³ zero according to treadmill duke score risk stratification) were divided (1:1:1) to either receiving the brand-name rosuvastatin or one of the two generic rosuvastatin medicines.  LDL-C, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C levels and liver enzymes were tested at the enrolment and after 6 months. Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) were monitored during the follow-up period. Average cost-effectiveness ratio and Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) were estimated for branded versus each generic. The output of ICERs was the percentage reduction in LDL-C. 

Results: After 6 months of statin treatment initiation, all lipid parameters were reduced significantly compared with baseline levels. There was a significant difference in LDL-C reduction between the branded and generic groups (P<0.01) but insignificant differences were reported in triglycerides levels (P=0.731) and HDL (P=0.167) among the three groups. All three statins were safe concerning liver enzymes and no observed major adverse cardiovascular events. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of the branded versus each generic were 157.7 and 62 Egyptian pounds per additional 1% decrease in LDL-C.              

Conclusion: Despite the higher lipid-lowering efficacy of the branded rosuvastatin, the lower cost of generic medicines can be beneficial in certain patients.

Published Date: 2020-11-20; Received Date: 2020-10-29