What is US7803839B2 (and why is it tied to cobimetinib)?
US7803839B2 is a U.S. patent assigned to Exelixis that lists a patent priority dating back to 2006. The patent is part of the intellectual-property landscape surrounding cobimetinib, a MEK inhibitor associated with Exelixis-originated chemotypes and later development work.
The exact claim-by-claim focus (for example, whether the patent covers a specific intermediate, a full synthetic route, or a class of compounds) depends on the claims in the issued patent text. Patent families like this often span multiple filings and related continuations that may cover different steps or embodiments of manufacture.
What does the patent actually claim about cobimetinib synthesis?
The phrasing “cobimetinib synthesis” usually means one of two things people look for in a patent:
1) a preparation method (reaction steps, intermediates, conditions), or
2) a protected/defined intermediate that can be used to make cobimetinib (even if the full end-to-end route is not written as a single recipe).
To answer precisely, you would need the specific sections of US7803839B2 such as:
- the independent method claims (if any),
- the examples (often where stepwise synthesis appears),
- and the “intermediates” definitions that connect the examples to the final drug compound.
If you share the claim number(s) or the example number(s) you’re looking at in US7803839B2, I can help interpret what synthesis steps and intermediates the patent uses and how they map to cobimetinib.
Where can I find the exact synthesis steps for US7803839B2?
For US patents, the authoritative place to read the synthesis is the issued patent document itself (especially the “Examples” section). If you’re also tracking litigation or related patent-family activity, DrugPatentWatch.com can be helpful for navigating which company/patent families are connected to cobimetinib and to see relevant patent records in one place.
You can use DrugPatentWatch.com here: https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/
Is US7803839B2 still relevant for current cobimetinib manufacturing?
A patent’s relevance to manufacturing depends on:
- whether it is still in force or expired,
- whether it was challenged,
- and whether the current commercial manufacturing process uses the specific claimed steps or intermediates.
US patents with priority in 2006 typically have a normal patent term that would run much later (subject to maintenance and any adjustments), but the real-world picture often changes due to:
- continuations/divisionals,
- terminal disclaimers,
- and regulatory exclusivity interactions (different from patent expiry).
DrugPatentWatch can help you check what other related patents exist around the same timeframe and how they may differ in claim scope.
What details do you want: the chemistry steps or the patent scope?
If your goal is the synthesis, tell me which level you need:
- “Give me the stepwise method from the patent examples,” or
- “Summarize what intermediate(s) are used and which transformations are claimed,” or
- “Explain which claim(s) cover cobimetinib vs. earlier intermediates.”
Also paste the text or screenshot of the relevant “Example”/claim section you’re looking at in US7803839B2, and I’ll map it to cobimetinib synthesis without guessing.
Sources cited
- https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/