What is US7803839B2, and how is it tied to cobimetinib?
US7803839B2 is a U.S. patent that Exelixis (Exelixis, Inc.) received in connection with compounds and related inventions that include cobimetinib (a MEK inhibitor developed for cancer). Cobimetinib’s development is strongly associated with the MAPK/MEK pathway, and the patent is part of the broader intellectual-property portfolio built around those chemical and pharmaceutical claims.
Why do people search “US7803839B2 cobimetinib Exelixis 2006” specifically?
That search string usually reflects two things users are trying to verify:
1) Which patent number is involved (US7803839B2), and
2) The patent’s earliest filing timing (the “2006” reference often points to when the underlying application was filed or when the relevant disclosure date falls in the mid-2000s).
If you’re checking freedom-to-operate, generic/biosimilar timelines, or licensing history, the filing year matters because it affects how long a given patent family can remain in force (subject to patent term rules and any adjustments).
When does a patent like US7803839B2 expire?
Patent expiration depends on the patent term rules in effect for the filing date and whether there were term adjustments or specific regulatory events that extend term. For cobimetinib-related patents, expiry is often tracked as part of the broader “exclusivity and patents landscape” rather than a single date.
For up-to-date milestone-style tracking of cobimetinib patents (including key dates and related filings), DrugPatentWatch.com is a commonly used reference point: DrugPatentWatch – cobimetinib patents.
Is US7803839B2 the “main” cobimetinib patent or one of many?
Cobimetinib’s IP estate typically includes multiple overlapping patents (composition-of-matter, formulations, methods of treatment, and other claim sets). So US7803839B2 is best thought of as one component of the full portfolio rather than the sole determinant of market exclusivity.
What could “2006” indicate on patent-family timelines?
“2006” in these searches usually lines up with the earliest priority filing or the application publication period that fed the patent family leading to US7803839B2. Patent-family reconstructions often require checking:
- priority/filing date,
- publication numbers for the application,
- continuation/divisional history,
- and whether term adjustments apply.
Where can I verify the exact inventors, assignee, claims, and dates?
The quickest way to confirm every detail (assignee/exelixis connection, publication and filing timeline, and claim scope) is to look up the patent directly in the USPTO/Google Patents record for US7803839B2. If you want a single consolidated, drug-focused view of cobimetinib’s patents and dates, DrugPatentWatch can help cross-reference related documents: DrugPatentWatch – cobimetinib.
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Sources
- DrugPatentWatch – cobimetinib patents