Patent Cliff

C1 16+
Pronunciation Definitions Examples Grammatical Forms Origin and Evolution

Pronunciation: /ˈpeɪ.tənt klɪf/

Definitions of patent cliff

noun a term used in the pharmaceutical industry to describe the period when multiple patents for blockbuster drugs expire, allowing generic versions to enter the market

Example Sentences

A1 The patent cliff is when a company's patents expire and they lose exclusivity on their products.

A2 Many pharmaceutical companies are facing the patent cliff, leading to a decrease in profits.

B1 The pharmaceutical industry is preparing for the patent cliff by investing in new research and development.

B2 Companies often try to extend their patents or find new revenue streams to avoid the effects of the patent cliff.

C1 The patent cliff can have a significant impact on a company's bottom line, leading to layoffs and restructuring.

C2 Strategies to navigate the patent cliff include forming partnerships, acquiring new technologies, and diversifying product offerings.

Examples of patent cliff in a Sentence

formal The pharmaceutical company is facing a significant revenue decline due to the upcoming patent cliff.

informal The drug company is about to lose a lot of money because of the patent cliff.

slang The company is screwed when the patent cliff hits.

figurative The patent cliff looms like a dark cloud over the company's future profits.

Grammatical Forms of patent cliff

plural

patent cliffs

present tense

patent cliff

future tense

will patent cliff

perfect tense

has patented cliff

continuous tense

is patenting cliff

singular

patent cliff

positive degree

patent cliff

infinitive

to patent cliff

gerund

patenting cliff

participle

patented cliff

Origin and Evolution of patent cliff

First Known Use: 2006 year
Language of Origin: English
Story behind the word: The term 'patent cliff' originated in the pharmaceutical industry to describe the phenomenon of major pharmaceutical patents expiring and leading to a steep decline in revenue for the companies holding those patents.
Evolution of the word: Initially used specifically in the context of pharmaceutical patents, the term 'patent cliff' has since been adopted in other industries to describe a similar situation of declining revenue due to the expiration of key patents.