HealthTo Keep Drug Prices High, Pharma Has Been Piling Up the Patents
A JAMA study found that the average number of patents on approved small-molecule drugs rose from 2.1 in 1990 to 6.9 in 2019. Growth was driven largely by “nonprimary” patents covering minor formulation, usage, or delivery-device changes. Together, they can form patent thickets that delay cheaper generics without meaningful clinical advances.
A
Ars Technica★★★☆☆2026-09-28 19:53Original
To Keep Drug Prices High, Pharma Has Been Piling Up the Patents
Health