Two medicines, side by side
Alirocumab vs atorvastatin
Alirocumab and atorvastatin are both labeled for angina, heart attack and coronary artery disease and high cholesterol. Drugs@FDA records approvals of alirocumab since 2015 and of atorvastatin since 1996. Pharmacies paid $258.01 per mL (Praluent 150 mg/mL pen) and $0.0228 per atorvastatin 10 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. Atorvastatin's other strengths are brand-only: $1.23 per mL (Atorvaliq 20 mg/5 mL suspension). In FDA's classes, alirocumab is a pcsk9 inhibitor and atorvastatin a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the alirocumab FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 16, 2026); the atorvastatin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 15, 2024).
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 atorvastatin record
Atorvastatin (Lipitor) · label of April 15, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsLIPITOR is indicated: • To reduce the risk of: o Myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, revascularization procedures, and angina in adults with multiple risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) but without clinically evident CHD o MI and stroke in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus with multiple risk factors for CHD but without clinically evident CHD o Non-fatal MI, fatal and non-fatal stroke, revascularization […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 17, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 59 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0228 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 53
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Alirocumab label of July 16, 2026, Atorvastatin label of April 15, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do alirocumab and atorvastatin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, alirocumab is a pcsk9 inhibitor and atorvastatin a hmg-coa reductase 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).”; Atorvastatin, “LIPITOR is a selective, competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme that converts 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A to mevalonate, a precursor of sterols, including …”
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 …”; Atorvastatin, “Mean plasma elimination half-life of LIPITOR in humans is approximately 14 hours, but the half-life of inhibitory …”
Generics: alirocumab none approved; atorvastatin since 2011 (Drugs@FDA).
| Alirocumab | Atorvastatin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Angina, Heart attack and coronary artery disease, High cholesterol | High cholesterol, Angina, High triglycerides, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | PCSK9 Inhibitor | HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | Alirocumab is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9). | LIPITOR is a selective, competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme that converts 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A to mevalonate, a precursor of sterols, including cholesterol. |
| 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 … | Mean plasma elimination half-life of LIPITOR in humans is approximately 14 hours, but the half-life of inhibitory activity for HMG-CoA reductase is 20 to 30 hours due to the contribution of active metabolites. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | July 24, 2015 | December 17, 1996 |
| First generic approved | none | November 30, 2011 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | none listed | 59 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $258.01 per mL (Praluent 150 mg/mL pen) | $0.0228 per tablet (Atorvastatin 10 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +3% | -8% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 53 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 24,935 | 245,894 |
| 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