Pharma Patent Cliffby readouts.io
Loss of exclusivity · Infectious disease

Descovy patent expiration

Descovy (Gilead) is expected to face US generic competition from 2031. Gilead 10-K: US patent expiry 2031 (Europe 2027). Gilead sued Cipla in February 2026 over a patent challenge. HIV treatment and prevention.

US loss of exclusivity
2031Company guidance
2025 worldwide sales
$2.8BGilead
Therapeutic area
Infectious disease
US competition from
GenericsExclusivity ends earlier outside the US

What the date means

Descovy's US exclusivity date is based on company guidance. The date comes from the company's own filings or guidance. Secondary patents, new formulations or litigation can still move it. It is a small-molecule drug, so copies are generics. Generic launches usually take most of the US volume within months.

What past cliffs suggest

Among past small-molecule drugs facing generics: Tecfidera's US sales fell to 21% of their 2019 level in its first full year of generics (2021); Revlimid's US sales fell to 96% of their 2021 level in its first full year of generics (2022) and 57% two years later. Where settlements cap generic volumes, as with Revlimid, the decline is slower. See how past cliffs played out →

Who's lined up to copy Descovy

Filed with the FDA Five generic makers settled patent cases over Descovy's key ingredient in 2022. Cipla has since filed a separate application challenging two Descovy patents, and Gilead sued it in February 2026.

Company (product)Stage
LupinSettled 2022
ApotexSettled 2022
MacleodsSettled 2022
HeteroSettled 2022
CiplaSettled 2022; new challenge, sued Feb 2026

Checked September 2026. Sources: Gilead 10-K 2025

What's at stake for Gilead

Descovy is 9.4% of Gilead's 2025 revenue ($2.8B of $29.4B). With Biktarvy, the drugs tracked here add up to 58% of Gilead's revenue losing US exclusivity by 2036.

Bars show each company's tracked drugs as a share of its total 2025 revenue. Descovy is highlighted.

Other blockbusters losing US exclusivity in 2031

Sources

  1. Gilead 10-K 2025
See all 45 drugs on the patent cliff →