2020s are bringing several pharmaceutical patent cliffs with them. Whilst the long-awaited and thoroughly discussed expiration of Keytruda's core compound patent is set to occur in 2028, we see multiple important patent expirations in 2026 too. Here, we look at the top pharmaceutical patents currently expiring, based on the most recent sales figures. In many cases, whilst the key patent expires, rest of the intellectual property portfolio provides protection and market exclusivity well after 2026, highlighting the importance of a well-prepared patent portfolio.
Top 6 expiring patents in 2026
| Drug | Generic Name | Company | Primary Indication | Patent Expiry (U.S.) | Sales (most recent) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozempic (injectable) / Wegovy (high-dose) | Semaglutide | Novo Nordisk | Type 2 Diabetes / Obesity | Key patent on semaglutide expires Mar 20, 2026; however, further patents cover device/delivery; push exclusivity to 2031. | $5–10bn in the US, ~$20bn worldwide (2024) |
| Eliquis | Apixaban | BMS / Pfizer | Anticoagulant (AFib, DVT) | Original apixaban compound patent extended to Nov 21, 2026 (patent-term extension); nevertheless, additional patents are listed through 2040. | ~$4bn (2024 U.S.) |
| Imbruvica | Ibrutinib | AbbVie / Johnson & Johnson | CLL, MCL, and others | Original patent expired 2019; supplemental patents on combination dosing (US8855969) are expiring Sep 20, 2026. | ~$2.8bn (2023 worldwide) |
| Januvia | Sitagliptin | Merck & Co. | Type 2 Diabetes | Key patent + pediatric exclusivity ended Jan 2023, but salt/polymorph patent expires May 2027; generics commercially allowed May 2026 by settlement. | $2.255bn (2023) |
| Xeljanz / XR | Tofacitinib | Pfizer | Rheumatoid arthritis, UC | Compound patent expires 2025; generics launched Aug 2025; additional patents extend to 2026. FDA-certified generics may enter by 2026. | $1.618bn (2023) |
| Janumet / XR | Sitagliptin + Metformin | Merck & Co. | Type 2 Diabetes | Same patents as above (see Januvia); FDA exclusivity extended to July 2026 for XR form. | $1.433bn (2023, combined with XR) |
What’s coming? A $300 billion revenue shift
The period from 2025 to 2032 represents far more than a typical wave of patent expirations. By revenue at risk, it is expected to be one of the largest loss-of-exclusivity cycles in pharmaceutical history. According to IQVIA, more than $300 billion in branded pharmaceutical sales are projected to face generic or biosimilar competition by 2030. This eclipses the 2011–2016 "patent cliff," when blockbuster medicines such as Lipitor, Plavix, and Singulair lost exclusivity, fundamentally reshaping the global generic medicines market for years. The upcoming wave is larger in scale, broader in therapeutic scope, and is expected to create unprecedented opportunities—and competitive pressures—across the pharmaceutical value chain.
Sources:
(1) Drug Discovery News. (2026). Blockbuster drugs face a massive patent cliff in 2026. Drug Discovery News. https://www.drugdiscoverynews.com/blockbuster-drugs-face-a-massive-patent-cliff-in-2026-17019
(2) IntuitionLabs.ai. (2026). Drug Patents Expiring in 2026: A Comprehensive Guide. IntuitionLabs.ai.
https://intuitionlabs.ai/articles/drug-patent-expirations-2026
(3) DrugPatentWatch. (2026). Patent Cliff or Patent Opportunity? Mapping Blockbuster Drug Expirations for Strategic Supply Chain Readiness. DrugPatentWatch. https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/blog/patent-cliff-or-patent-opportunity-mapping-blockbuster-drug-expirations-for-strategic-supply-chain-readiness/
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