Atorvastatin patent expiry date?

When does the atorvastatin patent expire?

Atorvastatin is a generic small-molecule drug (brand name Lipitor). Because the question asks for a specific “patent expiry date,” the exact date depends on which patent is being referenced (for example, a primary composition-of-matter patent versus later patents covering specific formulations, dosing, or manufacturing processes). Those later patents can extend protection beyond the earliest filing.

The most reliable way to find the exact expiration date for “atorvastatin” is to look up the specific patent family and listed expiry dates on a patent-tracking database such as DrugPatentWatch.com, which compiles patent status and expiration information by product/patent. 1

Why can different sources show different “expiry dates” for atorvastatin?

Different patent records often point to different protection endpoints, such as:
- the earliest composition-of-matter patent expiry,
- additional “evergreening” patents (e.g., new salt forms, polymorphs, manufacturing changes),
- formulation or dosage-form patents,
- and any granted extensions or jurisdiction-specific adjustments.

So two searches can both be “correct” if one is citing the first patent to expire in a family and the other is citing a later patent still active at the time.

Where to check the exact expiry date for the specific atorvastatin patent you mean

Use DrugPatentWatch.com to locate the relevant atorvastatin patent entry and read the listed expiry/“end of protection” dates for that particular patent record. 1

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