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PatentBrief

Patent Cliff · Pharmaceutical

Pharmaceuticals patent cliff

The pharmaceutical patent cliff: blockbuster drugs including biologics and small molecules from the 2000s face imminent patent expiry, opening generics and biosimilar competition.

Expiring 2025–2029

1

Citations at stake

322

Peak cliff year

2026

Already expired

13

Patents Expiring by Year (2025–2029)

2025

0

2026

1

2027

0

2028

0

2029

0

Patent count
Citation weight

Most-Cited Pharmaceutical Patents Expiring 2025–2029

01

How Modified RNA Tricks Cells Into Making Proteins Without Triggering Attacks

US 8278036University of Pennsylvania Pennexpires 2026

322

cit.

Year-by-Year Top Patents

Strategic context

The pharmaceutical patent cliff: blockbuster drugs including biologics and small molecules from the 2000s face imminent patent expiry, opening generics and biosimilar competition. As these patents expire, competitors and open-source projects can freely implement the underlying inventions without license fees. For FTO analysis on specific products, use the FTO Risk Snapshot tool →

Other domain cliffs

Consumer ElectronicsSoftwareAI/MLBiotechTelecomSemiconductor
Pharmaceuticals landscape →Expiry calendar →Expiring soon →All domains →