The patent winter is coming

The inevitable arrival of Humira biosimilars in the US next year means that Abbvie is hurtling towards biopharma’s biggest-ever patent cliff. The anti-rheumatic is expected to sell $18.6bn this year in the country, setting a new record for sales at risk.

But a bigger storm is coming for biopharma. A swathe of blockbusters could start to lose exclusivity from 2026, including the checkpoint inhibitors Keytruda and Opdivo, and the blood thinner Eliquis. The most painful period of branded sales erosion in at least 30 years is approaching, and a couple of developers look particularly exposed.