what the End of Certain Drug Patents Means for Access and Affordability in 2025
Significant drug patents are approaching expirations in 2025, representing billions of dollars in potential savings. When blockbuster medications lose their exclusive patent protection in the market, it’s known as a “patent cliff.” Each patent cliff opens the door for new generic competitors to enter the market.
While the impending expirations may threaten brand-name manufacturers’ revenue numbers, they present unprecedented opportunities for improved medication access and affordability. As a generics manufacturer and supplier, Westminster Pharmaceuticals is strategically positioned to capitalize on this market shift and continue its mission to expand access to generic pharmaceuticals.
Key Patent Expirations in 2025
Cancer treatments, diabetes medications, and specialty drugs for rare diseases are among the categories experiencing major U.S. patent expirations. Some of the high-value drugs losing patent exclusivity in 2025 include:
Johnson & Johnson’s Stelara and Simponi (immunology)
Regeneron’s Eylea (retinal conditions)
Amgen’s Prolia/Xgeva (osteoporosis and bone loss)
Novartis’ Entresto (heart failure), Promacta (thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia) and Tasigna (chronic myeloid leukemia)
AstraZeneca’s Soliris (rare disease), Brilinta (cardiometabolic), and Farxiga (diabetes, heart failure, chronic kidney disease)
Biogen’s Tysabri (MS, Chron’s)
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals’ Ryaltris ( allergic rhinitis)
Boehringer Ingelheim’s Jardiance (diabetes, heart failure, chronic kidney disease)
Bristol Myers Squibb’s Abilify Maintena (schizophrenia and bipolar I)
Bayer’s Xarelto (blood thinner)
The timeline for generic and biosimilar market entry typically follows a predictable pattern. Generic competitors often launch within months of patent expiration, while biosimilars for complex biologics may take 12-18 months to reach market due to additional regulatory requirements. Once competition enters, patients can expect dramatic price reductions. Generics typically cost 80-90% less than their brand-name counterparts, with biosimilars offering savings of 15-35%.
These developments will directly impact millions of patients who have previously faced barriers to treatment due to cost. Rural populations, uninsured individuals, and patients in emerging markets stand to benefit most significantly from increased medication accessibility as prices drop and distribution networks expand.
Impacts
When major drug patents expire in 2025, the benefits will ripple through the entire healthcare system. When costs drop, patients will save money on their prescriptions and take their medications more consistently. Research has found that cutting prescription prices in half can boost adherence by 30%, which means fewer hospital visits and better treatment outcomes.
Insurance companies and Medicare will have billions of extra dollars to work with, money they can use to cover more patients or expand access to expensive cancer drugs and specialty treatments that were previously out of reach for many.
Drug manufacturers will need to ramp up production quickly to meet the surge in demand, and better coordination across supply chains will be necessary to avoid shortages. Due to regulatory approvals, there's also often a lag between when a patent expires and when generic versions actually hit pharmacy shelves, so the industry needs to start preparing now.
Expanded Access Beyond the Patent Cliffs
WPRX continues its unwavering commitment to expanding medication access, and the substantial patent cliff activity in 2025 creates new opportunities to fulfill this mission. However, patent cliffs are more than a single year of opportunity; as brand-name drugs continue to expire beyond 2025, WPRX will monitor the landscape to identify additional pathways toward broader healthcare access.
