Two medicines, side by side
Fenofibrate vs rosuvastatin
Fenofibrate and rosuvastatin are both labeled for high cholesterol and high triglycerides. Drugs@FDA records approvals of fenofibrate since 1993 and of rosuvastatin since 2003. Pharmacies paid $0.103 per fenofibrate 160 mg tablet and $0.0692 per rosuvastatin calcium 40 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, fenofibrate is a peroxisome proliferator receptor alpha agonist and rosuvastatin a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the fenofibrate FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 29, 2024); the rosuvastatin FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 4, 2026).
Highlights of the fenofibrate record
Fenofibrate (Tricor) · label of April 29, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsTRICOR is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha agonist indicated as an adjunct to diet: To reduce elevated LDL-C, Total-C, TG and Apo B, and to increase HDL-C in adult patients with primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia ( 1.1 ). For treatment of adult patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia ( 1.2 ). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 31, 1993
- Generic labelers
- 54 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.103 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 8
Highlights of the rosuvastatin record
Rosuvastatin (Crestor) · label of September 4, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsRosuvastatin tablets are indicated: To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or an arterial revascularization procedure) in adults at increased risk for CV events. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 12, 2003
- Generic labelers
- 45 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0692 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 13
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Fenofibrate label of April 29, 2024, Rosuvastatin label of September 4, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do fenofibrate and rosuvastatin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, fenofibrate is a peroxisome proliferator receptor alpha agonist and rosuvastatin a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor.
How each works, in its label's words: Fenofibrate, “The active moiety of TRICOR is fenofibric acid.”; Rosuvastatin, “Rosuvastatin is an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme that converts 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A to mevalonate, a precursor of cholesterol.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Fenofibrate, “Fenofibric acid is eliminated with a half-life of 20 hours, allowing once daily dosing.”; Rosuvastatin, “The elimination half-life of rosuvastatin is approximately 19 hours.”
Generics: fenofibrate since 2002; rosuvastatin since 2016 (Drugs@FDA).
| Fenofibrate | Rosuvastatin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High cholesterol, High triglycerides | Heart attack and coronary artery disease, High cholesterol, High triglycerides, Stroke prevention |
| Pharmacologic class | Peroxisome Proliferator Receptor alpha Agonist | HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | The active moiety of TRICOR is fenofibric acid. The pharmacological effects of fenofibric acid in both animals and humans have been extensively studied through oral administration of fenofibrate. | Rosuvastatin is an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme that converts 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A to mevalonate, a precursor of cholesterol. |
| Half-life (label) | Fenofibric acid is eliminated with a half-life of 20 hours, allowing once daily dosing. | The elimination half-life of rosuvastatin is approximately 19 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 31, 1993 | August 12, 2003 |
| First generic approved | April 9, 2002 | April 29, 2016 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 54 labelers | 45 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.103 per tablet (Fenofibrate 160 mg tablet) | $0.0692 per tablet (Rosuvastatin calcium 40 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -14% | -7% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 8 | 13 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 35,248 | 110,043 |
| 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)
Do their labels mention each other?
Rosuvastatin label, drug interactionsFenofibrates (e.g., fenofibrate and fenofibric acid) Prevention or Management: Consider if the benefit of using fibrates concomitantly with rosuvastatin outweighs the increased risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis.
Rosuvastatin label, drug interactionsFenofibrates (e.g., fenofibrate and fenofibric acid) Prevention or Management: Consider if the benefit of using fibrates concomitantly with CRESTOR outweighs the increased risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to fenofibrate
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions