Pharmaceutical Giants Johnson & Johnson and Novartis Navigate Patent Cliffs Amid Market Challenges

Pharmaceutical heavyweights Johnson & Johnson and Novartis face significant headwinds as key drugs lose patent exclusivity, inviting fierce competition from biosimilars. Johnson & Johnson's immunology blockbuster Stelara saw revenue plummet 42.7% year-over-year to $1.7 billion in Q2 following biosimilar entries in Europe and the U.S. Yet the healthcare conglomerate posted 5.8% overall revenue growth to $23.7 billion, demonstrating remarkable resilience through diversification.

Novartis confronts similar challenges but maintains robust pipelines and strategic agility. Both companies exemplify how industry leaders can weather patent expirations through operational scale and therapeutic innovation. Their performance underscores the sector's capacity to absorb shocks while delivering shareholder value.