Expired patents

1. Coming 2028
   Apixaban (Eliquis)Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer · 2028 · Patents

   One of the world's top-selling drugs. US patents end between 2026 and 2027, but settlements put generic entry around April 2028.

   US 2028
2. Coming 2027
   Ibrutinib (Imbruvica)AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson · 2026 · Patents

   The US compound patent runs to December 2026, with pediatric exclusivity to June 2027.

   US 2027
3. Coming 2027
   Palbociclib (Ibrance) and dulaglutide (Trulicity)Pfizer; Eli Lilly · 2027 · Patents

   Two blockbuster drugs whose key US protection is listed as ending in 2027.

   US 2027
4. New in 2026
   Semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy compound)Novo Nordisk · 2026 · Patents

   The compound patent on the world's best-selling weight-loss drug ended in early 2026 in Canada (Novo let it lapse), China, India and Brazil. Health Canada received generic filings and generics launched in India.

   Canada 2026China 2026India 2026Brazil 2026
5. New in 2026
   Lapsed patents (unpaid maintenance fees)Patent owners worldwide · 2006 · Patents

   Every patent filed 20 years ago (2006) has now expired, and many younger US patents lapse early because owners stop paying maintenance fees at 3.5, 7.5 and 11.5 years. Their full technical drawings and instructions are free to use.

   Worldwide 2026
6. New in 2026
   Sitagliptin (Januvia, Janumet)Merck · 2026 · Patents

   Generics were allowed on the US market from May 2026 under a settlement.

   US 2026
7. Earlier
   LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery cathodeUniversity of Texas, Hydro-Québec and others · 1996 · Patents

   The key LFP cathode patents expired around 2022, letting makers outside China build the cheap, safe batteries now used in many EVs and home storage.

   Worldwide 2022
8. Earlier
   Fused deposition modeling (FDM 3D printing)S. Scott Crump, Stratasys · 1989 · Patents

   The core FDM patent expired in 2009 and set off the cheap desktop 3D printer boom (RepRap, MakerBot, Prusa).

   Worldwide 2009
9. Earlier
   MP3 audio formatFraunhofer IIS and others · 1991 · Patents

   Fraunhofer ended its MP3 licensing programme in 2017 after the last patents expired. MP3 is now free to implement.

   Worldwide 2017
10. Earlier
    Selective laser sintering (SLS 3D printing)Carl Deckard, University of Texas · 1986 · Patents

    Key SLS patents expired around 2014, opening cheaper powder-bed printers.

    Worldwide 2014
11. Earlier
    RSA public-key encryptionRivest, Shamir, Adleman (MIT) · 1983 · Patents

    The US RSA patent expired in September 2000, opening public-key encryption to everyone.

    US 2000
12. Earlier
    Sildenafil (Viagra) and atorvastatin (Lipitor)Pfizer · 1990 · Patents

    Lipitor went generic in the US in late 2011; Viagra generics arrived from December 2017. Two of the biggest patent cliffs in history.

    US 2011
13. Earlier
    LZW compression (GIF images)Unisys · 1985 · Patents

    Unisys's LZW patent, which made GIF a licensing fight, expired in the US in 2003 and elsewhere in 2004.

    Worldwide 2004US 2003
14. Earlier
    Hook-and-loop fastenerGeorge de Mestral (Velcro) · 1955 · Patents

    The patents expired in 1978 and cheap copies flooded in.

    Worldwide 1978

How patents end

A patent lasts 20 years from filing if its owner keeps paying renewal fees; drugs can get up to about 5 more years of extension and separate data exclusivity. Many patents die early because fees go unpaid. When a patent ends, anyone may make what it describes, but newer patents on improvements, formulations or devices can still block an exact copy. Check the patent register in each country.