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Pharmaceutical industry bracing for record patent expiries, EvaluatePharma data reveals
London, UK -- February 2, 2011 -- Thirteen US blockbusters will lose patent protection over the next two years, data from EvaluatePharma show, highlighting the challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry in the coming years. With the reporting season in full swing it is no wonder that several big pharmaceutical company chief executives have warned of tough times ahead.
- Drugs worth $15.3bn face generic competition this year
- “At risk” sales to more than double to $33.2bn by 2012, biggest annual total on record
- $133bn of branded drugs face patent expiry in next six years in the US alone
- Pfizer to bear brunt of patent cliff with $11bn Lipitor expiry later this year
The sector is facing an unprecedented period of patent expiries when mega-blockbusters, including Lipitor, Plavix and Zyprexa, will all be exposed to cheap, generic drugs. While this is good news in terms of lowering healthcare bills, companies like Pfizer and Eli Lilly are facing the loss of hugely profitable franchises.
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