Mylan Inc., a global pharmaceutical company committed to setting new standards in health care, has launched atorvastatin calcium tablets, 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg and 80 mg in France, Belgium, the UK, the Netherlands and Ireland.

Mylan has received marketing authorization from each country's respective health authority to begin selling its product immediately. atorvastatin calcium is the generic version of Pfizer's Lipitor tablets. This product is indicated for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and hypercholesterolemia.

Mylan CEO Heather Bresch said: "We are pleased to provide access to generic Lipitor to more than 4 million patients in five countries across Europe. Mylan is committed to expanding access to high quality medicine in Europe and around the world. Mylan's launch of atorvastatin calcium tablets will help to provide health care systems in these markets with an estimated $700 million (euro 500 million) of savings in 2012 associated with the generic availability of this important medicine."

In France, Belgium, the UK, the Netherlands and Ireland, Lipitor had total sales of $1.6 billion (euro 1.126 billion) for the twelve months ending December 31, 2011, according to IMS Health.