Atorvastatin vs Simvastatin — Cost, Coverage & Plan Comparison

Pick the drugs you want to compare.

Up to 4 drugsCross-class or same-class

Start with the molecules your plan spends the most on. Most useful comparisons live within the same therapeutic class — switching across classes requires deeper clinical review.

Drug 1

Drug 2

Drug 3 (optional)

Drug 4 (optional)

Side by side, line by line.

Federal data onlyNo PBM pricing assumed

Compare across

11 dimensions

HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor

Atorvastatin

Brand: Lipitor

First FDA approval: 1996-12-17

HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor

Simvastatin

Brand: ZOCOR

First FDA approval: 2006-12-20

Lowest NADACAcquisition cost floor across all NDCs

$0.025Per unit

$0.028Per unit

Average NADACAcross all dosage forms and strengths

$0.397Up to $19.20

$0.395Up to $9.73

Generic manufacturersActive ANDA holders — FDA Orange Book

2296 total ANDAs filed

1154 total ANDAs filed

Annualized Part D spendCY2024 — CMS Part D Spending Dashboard

$1.20BFull year

$190.2MFull year

Part D claims (CY24)Total fills, all strengths

110.8M34.5M beneficiaries

22.1M6.9M beneficiaries

Avg cost per claimCalculated: total spend ÷ total claims

$11Per claim, all NDCs

$9Per claim, all NDCs

Part D plans surveyed2026 plan year — CMS Formulary file

329Across CMS plan year

Prior-authorization frictionPlan-NDC pairs requiring PA

0Zero PA friction

5Minimal friction

Step therapy appliedPlan-NDC pairs requiring step therapy

4Limited friction

3Limited friction

FDA shortage statusLive cross-reference vs FDA Drug Shortage Database

NoneClear

Generic availableFDA Orange Book

Yes22 manufacturers

Yes11 manufacturers