Patent Expiry: What Happens When Brand Drugs Go Generic

When a patent expiry, the legal end of a drug manufacturer's exclusive right to sell a medication. Also known as drug patent expiration, it’s the moment when other companies can legally make and sell the same medicine under its generic name. This isn’t just a paperwork event—it’s the trigger that can drop drug prices by 80% or more. Think of it like the end of a monopoly: once the clock runs out, competition kicks in, and suddenly, what cost $300 a month might drop to $30.

But patent expiry doesn’t mean instant access. The FDA, the U.S. agency that reviews and approves all medications for safety and effectiveness still has to clear each generic version before it hits shelves. That’s where programs like GDUFA, a fee-based system that funds faster FDA reviews of generic drugs come in. Before GDUFA, generic approvals could take years. Now, many clear in months. And that’s why you’re seeing more generic versions of drugs like vardenafil, tadalafil, and repaglinide—medications once locked behind high prices are now widely available.

Not every drug flips to generic the moment its patent expires. Some companies stretch protection by tweaking the formula just enough to get a new patent—called evergreening. Others delay generics by legal battles or by controlling the supply of the original drug’s active ingredient. That’s why some brand-name drugs stay expensive even after their patent is gone. But when the system works right, patients win. You’ll see this clearly in posts about patent expiry and its ripple effects: cheaper Clomid for fertility, affordable Depakote for seizures, and generic Ativan for anxiety. These aren’t theoretical changes—they’re real savings in people’s wallets.

What you’ll find in this collection are real-world stories of how patent expiry reshapes treatment. From how generic sildenafil replaced Viagra to why some older drugs still cost a fortune despite being off-patent, these articles cut through the noise. You’ll learn who benefits, who delays, and what you can do to get the lower-priced version your doctor might not have mentioned. This isn’t about corporate strategy—it’s about your health, your budget, and your right to affordable medicine.