Talk Bio

2026 marks a major wave of pharmaceutical patent expirations for blockbuster drugs like Merck’s Januvia/Janumet, Pfizer’s Xeljanz, Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, and Eliquis (BMS/Pfizer), leading to generic and biosimilar competition and significant revenue erosion. 1 2 3 Industry analyses project $236 billion in annual global revenue at risk from 2025-2030 patent cliffs, targeting complex biologics and specialized therapies unlike prior small-molecule cliffs. 3 Generic launches typically cause >90% price declines, expanding access but pressuring pharma revenues; companies counter with patent extensions, evergreening, and R&D shifts to biologics and novel therapies. 1 FDA initiatives include a 2025 pilot for fast-tracking U.S.-made generics and streamlined biosimilar approvals to accelerate competition post-expiration. 1 Pharma strategies involve M&A acceleration, defensive innovations (e.g., Merck’s Keytruda subcutaneous shift), and portfolio maturation to offset losses am...