Annual Report
The Patent Cliff Report 2026-2030
794 patents expiring in the next 5 years across 100 companies.
Published April 2026 · USPTO data through March 2026
Executive Summary
The five-year window from 2026 to 2030 represents one of the most significant patent cliff periods in recent history. 794 tracked patents are set to expire, including key protections on blockbuster pharmaceutical drugs, foundational technology patents, and critical industrial innovations. The implications extend from drug pricing to competitive dynamics in technology and manufacturing.
In pharmaceuticals, the cliff is especially steep. Drugs including Biktarvy, Xarelto, Tremfya face key patent expirations that will open the door to generic and biosimilar competition. When originator patents expire, drug prices typically drop 80-95% within two years as generics enter the market. For patients and payers, this means substantial savings; for pharmaceutical companies, it means billions in lost revenue unless offset by new pipeline drugs.
On the technology side, Samsung, Sony, Huawei face the largest volume of expirations. Companies with low Patent Strength Scores — 89 currently rated D or F — are most vulnerable, as their remaining portfolios may lack the breadth and recency needed to maintain competitive advantages once key patents lapse.
Expiration Timeline: 2026-2030
Key Drug Patent Expirations
Companies Most Exposed to Patent Cliff
Technology Landscape
Beyond pharmaceuticals, patent expirations will reshape competitive dynamics across technology sectors. Computing & Data Processing, Telecommunications, Electrical Components represent the most heavily patented technology areas in our database. As foundational patents in these areas expire, barriers to entry lower and new competitors can enter markets previously controlled by patent holders.
For investors, the patent cliff creates both risk and opportunity. Companies with strong, diversified portfolios (A or B Patent Strength scores) typically file new patents faster than old ones expire, maintaining their competitive moat. Companies with D or F scores face existential risk as their key protections lapse without adequate replacement filings.
Methodology
This report uses USPTO PatentsView API data covering 5,718 patents across 100 companies and 40 pharmaceutical products. Patent expiration dates are calculated as filing date plus 20 years (standard utility patent term), adjusted for known patent term extensions where available. The Patent Strength Score weights portfolio size (30%), claims breadth (25%), time remaining (25%), and portfolio diversity (20%). See our full methodology.
Cite This Report
PatentCliff. "The Patent Cliff Report 2026-2030." patentcliff.org, April 2026. https://www.patentcliff.org/report/patent-cliff-2026-2030
Frequently Asked Questions
794 tracked patents are set to expire between 2026 and 2030. This includes drug patents, technology patents, and industrial patents across 100 companies. The largest single-year cliff occurs in 2027.
Major drugs facing patent expiration include Biktarvy, Xarelto, Tremfya, Vyvanse, Revlimid. When key patents on blockbuster drugs expire, generic and biosimilar competitors can enter the market, typically at 80-95% lower prices. This creates the "patent cliff" that can dramatically reduce revenue for originator companies.
Samsung, Sony, Huawei face the largest number of patent expirations within the next 5 years. Companies with strong Patent Strength Scores typically have diversified portfolios and newer filings to offset losses.
The Patent Strength Score (0-100, A-F) evaluates four factors: portfolio size (30%), claims breadth or average claims per patent (25%), average time remaining before expiration (25%), and portfolio diversity measured by unique technology classifications (20%).
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