Pharma Cos Likely to Climb US Generics Value Chain

The Indian pharmaceutical industry is likely to benefit from a major wave of patent expiries in the US, as small-molecule drugs worth $63.7 billion are expected to go off-patent between 2025-29, a 65 percent rise over the previous five years, according to a report by Antique Stock Broking Limited.

- ANJALI SINGH

The boost for the Indian drugmakers is also likely to be combined with a broader Loss of Exclusivity (LoE) opportunity across the US and EU projected to reach $180 billion by 2035, the report said.

The shift is expected to drive a sharp increase in generic drug launches, positioning Indian drugmakers for strong growth, particularly those with emerging US operations and expertise in complex generics.

Indian players with smaller US bases, such as Alembic Pharmaceutical and Shilpa Medicare, and strong positions in complex generics, such as Cipla and Lupin—which have invested early in differentiated products such as injectables and respiratory therapies—are well positioned to gain market share.

Indian players are also stepping up to fill the volume gap, as global majors like Teva, Viatris, and Sandoz have cut back operations and manufacturing footprints—each having shuttered dozens of sites since 2018.