M K Rajashekaran
With the expiry of patents for several essential medicines, the prices of key drugs, including those for diabetes, asthma, and schizophrenia, are expected to drop significantly as cheaper generic alternatives enter the market.
Representational image.
Thrissur: The prices of several essential medicines in India are set to decline following the expiry of their patents, allowing pharmaceutical companies to introduce more affordable generic versions.
Among the key drugs seeing price reductions are empagliflozin and dapagliflozin, both used for diabetes, whose patents expired in February 2025.
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Empagliflozin (used for type 2 diabetes), previously priced at ₹60 per tablet, is now available for less than ₹6 as multiple Indian pharmaceutical companies have launched generic versions. This marks a 90% reduction in cost, significantly increasing affordability for diabetes patients.
A list of notable medicines whose patents have expired or will expire in 2025 includes:
- Mometasone furoate and olopatadine hydrochloride nasal spray (for severe allergic reactions) – January 2025
- Granisetron (for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting) – January 2025
- Aclidinium bromide (for severe asthma) – February 2025
- Aclidinium bromide and formoterol fumarate (for severe asthma) – February 2025
- Dapagliflozin (for type 2 diabetes) – February 2025
- Empagliflozin (for type 2 diabetes) – February 2025
- Aripiprazole (for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) – June 2025
- Rivaroxaban (anticoagulant) – August 2025
- Tapentadol hydrochloride (pain reliever) – December 2025
The expiration of patents enables pharmaceutical companies to produce generic alternatives, which are chemically identical to branded drugs but significantly cheaper. This shift is expected to boost accessibility and lower healthcare costs for millions of patients.
Pharmaceutical experts predict that the trend of falling medicine prices will continue as more patents expire, benefiting those who rely on expensive medications for chronic conditions.
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