The point when a drug's patents expire and lower-cost generics can enter the market, usually causing prices to fall sharply. The newer GLP-1s are years away from this (their patents extend well into the 2030s) which is why no true generic semaglutide or tirzepatide exists yet and prices remain high. Understanding the patent timeline explains why "cheap" versions today are compounded, not generic.
Related terms: Generic drug · Branded drug · Compounded medication