Two medicines, side by side
Alirocumab vs anastrozole
Alirocumab is labeled for angina, heart attack and coronary artery disease and high cholesterol; anastrozole for breast cancer. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of alirocumab since 2015 and of anastrozole since 1995. Pharmacies paid $258.01 per mL (Praluent 150 mg/mL pen) and $0.142 per anastrozole 1 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ and one is a brand and one a generic, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, alirocumab is a pcsk9 inhibitor and anastrozole an aromatase inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the alirocumab FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 16, 2026); the anastrozole FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 2, 2026).
Highlights of the alirocumab record
Alirocumab (Praluent) · label of July 16, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsPRALUENT ® is indicated: To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (coronary heart disease death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or unstable angina requiring hospitalization) in adults at increased risk for these events. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 24, 2015
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $258.01 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the anastrozole record
Anastrozole (Arimidex) · label of March 2, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsARIMIDEX is an aromatase inhibitor indicated for: • Adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer ( 1.1 ) • First-line treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive or hormone receptor-unknown locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer ( 1.2 ) • Treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women with disease progression following tamoxifen therapy. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 27, 1995
- Generic labelers
- 24 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.142 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 4
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Alirocumab label of July 16, 2026, Anastrozole label of March 2, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do alirocumab and anastrozole differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, alirocumab is a pcsk9 inhibitor and anastrozole an aromatase inhibitor.
How each works, in its label's words: Alirocumab, “Alirocumab is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9).”; Anastrozole, “The growth of many cancers of the breast is stimulated or maintained by estrogens.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Alirocumab, “Based on a population pharmacokinetic analysis, the median apparent half-life of alirocumab at steady state was 17 to …”; Anastrozole, “The mean elimination half-life of anastrozole is 50 hours.”
Generics: alirocumab none approved; anastrozole since 2010 (Drugs@FDA).
| Alirocumab | Anastrozole | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Angina, Heart attack and coronary artery disease, High cholesterol | Breast cancer |
| Pharmacologic class | PCSK9 Inhibitor | Aromatase Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | Alirocumab is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9). | The growth of many cancers of the breast is stimulated or maintained by estrogens. |
| Half-life (label) | Based on a population pharmacokinetic analysis, the median apparent half-life of alirocumab at steady state was 17 to 20 days in patients receiving alirocumab at subcutaneous doses of 75 mg every 2 weeks or 150 mg every … | The mean elimination half-life of anastrozole is 50 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | July 24, 2015 | December 27, 1995 |
| First generic approved | none | June 28, 2010 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | none listed | 24 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $258.01 per mL (Praluent 150 mg/mL pen) | $0.142 per tablet (Anastrozole 1 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +3% | +3% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 4 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 24,935 | 36,521 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to alirocumab
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions