Delayed Generic Market Saturation After Patent Expiration—A Billion-Dollar Problem

In this invited commentary, the authors describe how brand-name manufacturers use strategies like authorized generics, formulary rebate contracts, and copay coupons to delay uptake of independent generics even after patent expiration. To address these practices, they propose various policy reforms, including FDA pre-approval of multiple generic manufacturers before patent expiry, temporary importation, and federal restrictions on coupon use when generics are available.