Number of pharma patents per drug has tripled since 1990, study says
By Nick Robertson ( October 8, 2026, 19:01 GMT | Comment) -- The number of patents per drug has more than tripled since 1990 from about 2.1 to 6.9 in 2019, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers argue the increase, mostly attributable to nonprimary patents, holds back generic competition and contributes to “patent thickets.”Branded drug manufacturers acquired three times as many patents per drug in 2019 than three decades before, according to research recently published in the Journal of American Medical Association. Much of the increase is nonprimary and continuation patents which researchers argue contribute to “patent thickets” that hold back market entry of generic competition....
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