A new Sandoz analysis reveals the next wave of affordable medicines is coming; will Canada be ready?

Sandoz Canada analysis estimates $94 billion in illustrative savings potential, but warns barriers could put it at risk 

LONGUEUIL, QC, Oct. 28, 2026 /CNW/ -- The next decade will see more than 300 brand-name medicines lose exclusivity or have already become open to competition but have not yet seen market entry, opening the door to a new generation of affordable generic and biosimilar treatments for Canadians. To better understand the scale of this opportunity, Sandoz Canada conducted an in-depth analysis. Aviseo Conseil independently assessed the economic and methodological coherence of the forecasting framework and the overall plausibility of its outputs.

A Golden Decade of Loss of Exclusivity for Affordable Medicines in Canada analysis points to an estimated $94 billion in illustrative savings potential associated with generic and biosimilar market-entry opportunities between 2026 and 2035.

Key findings:

• Between 2026 and 2035, more than 300 medicines will either reach loss of exclusivity or are already open to competition but have not yet seen market entry.
• Those medicines represent approximately $24 billion in annual patented medicine value (brand), including more than 250 generic opportunities valued at $13 billion and more than 80 biological opportunities valued at $11 billion. 
• Many of the medicines approaching loss of exclusivity are among the most expensive treatments on the market, including GLP-1s, biologics, and complex generic medicines.
• The projected $94 billion in savings from generic and biosimilar medicines is not guaranteed. Without timely market entry, payers could face $183 billion in cumulative spending on higher-cost branded treatments.

"This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make medicines more affordable and accessible while creating room to reinvest scarce health-care dollars in other health priorities," said Michel Robidoux, President and General Manager, Sandoz Canada. "But patent expiry alone does not create savings. The savings are realized when affordable alternatives can reach patients and are adopted in a timely way."

Apart from the massive savings opportunities, the analysis points to several factors that can determine whether Canada captures the potential savings created when medicines lose exclusivity, including the speed and predictability of regulatory processes, the removal of barriers that can delay market entry, and policies that support timely uptake of generic and biosimilar medicines.

To fully capture this opportunity, Sandoz Canada has outlined nine critical success priorities centered around timely access, meaningful uptake, predictable economics and fair competition, all of which are detailed in the analysis. Achieving this will require coordinated action by the federal and provincial governments, as well as private payers and employers, to respect regulatory approval timelines, turn authorization into timely patient access, encourage optimal use of generic and biosimilar medicines, maintain sustainable market conditions and preserve a fair opportunity for lower-cost alternatives to enter and compete.

For Sandoz, the real value of this decade lies in improving patient access to medicines that have traditionally been costly, while generating significant savings for both public and private payers.

"Canada has an opportunity to turn the next decade of patent expiries into meaningful savings for patients via affordable drugs, public drug plans and the broader health-care system," said Michel Robidoux, Sandoz Canada. "That will require a policy and market environment that supports timely access and uptake. Our modelling indicates that, in certain years, delayed entry and uptake could result in billions of dollars in unrealized potential savings."

Sandoz Canada is committed to contributing to the realization of these opportunities. As a global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, the company has the capabilities to develop, manufacture and commercialize the next generation of affordable treatments. Through continued investments in its development pipeline, manufacturing network and strategic partnerships, Sandoz has prepared for this moment. Combining expertise across the entire medicines lifecycle, the company is committed to translating future loss-of-exclusivity opportunities into timely access to quality medicines and meaningful savings for patients and health-care systems.

To access the full analysis, A Golden Decade of Loss of Exclusivity for Affordable Medicines in Canada, please contact Sophie Levasseur, Corporate Communications Manager at Sandoz Canada, at [email protected].

ABOUT SANDOZ CANADA

As a Canadian leader in affordable medicines, Sandoz Canada has a product portfolio that includes over 700 generics and biosimilars spanning multiple therapeutic areas, such as anti-infective, cardiovascular, central nervous system, diabetes, immunology and oncology. In 2025, 59 million Sandoz prescriptions were issued in Canada (source: IQVIA Compuscript TRx, MAT 2025). Sandoz Canada employs 300 people across the country and at its head office in Saint-Hubert, Quebec. It is a trusted partner for pharmacists, physicians and hospitals for quality medicine and outstanding customer service and is committed to supporting reliable supply. For more information about Sandoz Canada, visit www.sandoz.ca.

SOURCE Sandoz Canada

CONTACTS: Media relations contact: [email protected], Sophie Levasseur, Manager, Corporate Communications, [phone]