I-MAK Report Reveals How Extending Patent Terms Inflates Prices of Medicare's Top Negotiated Drugs
Data brief analyzes patenting and pricing practices for blockbuster drugs Eliquis and semaglutide medications (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy), continuing the acclaimed Overpatented, Overpriced series that exposes flaws in the U.S. patent system
NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / June 16, 2025 / The Initiative for Medicines, Access, and Knowledge (I-MAK) published the latest data brief in its landmark Overpatented, Overpriced series, revealing the multiple ways pharmaceutical companies are able to extend their patent protection and keep drug prices high. The new data brief exposes how these systemic flaws impact Eliquis, a top-selling blood thinner, and the semaglutide family of diabetes and weight-loss drugs including Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy.Overpatented, Overpriced 2025 A Data Brief on Medicare-Negotiated Drugs: Eliquis, Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy
The data brief accompanies updates to I-MAK's Drug Patent Book, a comprehensive and publicly accessible database that reveals detailed patent information on a number of bestselling pharmaceutical drugs, and builds on I-MAK's acclaimed Overpatented, Overpriced investigation series, which has become a cornerstone resource for policymakers, researchers, and advocates working to address America's prescription drug pricing crisis.
Key findings include:
'What we're seeing is a patent system that is designed to help drugmakers extend their patent monopolies so they can maximize profits at the expense of affordable medicines patients can access,' said Tahir Amin, CEO and co-founder of I-MAK. 'We need to change these different incentives in the patent system as they are being exploited to the detriment of the public.'
The findings underscore the urgent need for patent system reform and stronger Congressional and regulatory oversight. I-MAK's research and evidence has informed legislative efforts to address prescription drug pricing and has been cited by policymakers across the political spectrum.
'This research provides policymakers with the hard data they need to understand how patent abuse is the root cause of high drug prices in the United States,' states Amin. 'We can't fix what we can't see, and I-MAK's work is essential for bringing transparency and accountability to a system that has operated in the shadows for far too long.'
Contact Information
Simon Tam
Director of Communications
[email protected]
(443) 267-4666
SOURCE: Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge
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