What is US7049320, and how is it related to rolapitant?
US7049320 is a patent document that includes claims and technical disclosures involving pharmaceutical compounds and related chemistry. Rolapitant is an NK1 (neurokinin-1) receptor antagonist used to help prevent nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. The connection between “US7049320” and “rolapitant” typically comes from the fact that patents covering NK1 antagonists (including specific compound classes, intermediates, or synthesis routes) can include molecules that are the same as, or closely related to, rolapitant.
What does the patent cover (compounds, methods, or synthesis)?
In patents like US7049320, the relevant content for rolapitant usually falls into one of these areas:
- The claimed active ingredient(s) (the compound structure) and how it is defined in the claims.
- Pharmaceutical compositions containing the active ingredient(s).
- Manufacturing steps (intermediates and synthetic routes).
- Uses such as preventing or treating nausea/vomiting linked to NK1 receptor activity.
If you share the patent title or the exact claim number you’re looking at, I can map the specific language in US7049320 to rolapitant more precisely.
Is US7049320 specifically about rolapitant, or about a broader NK1 class?
Patents that involve NK1 antagonists are often broader than a single named drug. Even when a patent is widely associated with rolapitant, it may cover:
- The exact rolapitant compound,
- A family of related analogs,
- Or intermediates/synthesis that can be used to make rolapitant or close analogs.
To determine which case applies for US7049320, you’d look for whether the claims explicitly define rolapitant (by name or exact chemical structure) versus a generic formula that includes rolapitant as one member.
When was US7049320 filed and issued (and why does that matter)?
The timing matters because it affects:
- How long protection lasted for specific claims,
- When competitors could rely on non-infringing approaches,
- And whether later exclusivity or follow-on patents may have been the real commercial barrier.
US patents also have different life/expiration behavior depending on filing date and term adjustments. The most reliable way to answer “when did it expire?” is to check the filing/priority dates and any term adjustments listed on the patent record.
Can you find rolapitant in the patent claims?
To confirm whether rolapitant is directly claimed, check:
- The claim section for a compound name, code name, or a structural definition matching rolapitant.
- Any “example” section showing a preparation of the target compound (or an intermediate that is specific to rolapitant).
- The background/description where the patent may identify NK1 antagonists and sometimes list example compounds by name.
If you paste the relevant claim text (or a link to the patent), I can identify whether it is rolapitant by structure/definition.
If this patent isn’t about rolapitant directly, what else might be?
It’s common for rolapitant to be covered by multiple related filings, such as:
- Earlier foundational patents covering the NK1 antagonist chemistry,
- Later patents covering formulation, dosing regimens, salts, or intermediates,
- Or continuation/divisional patents that can shift the practical protection landscape.
A quick next step is to look at the patent’s “assignee” and its related family (continuations/divisionals) to see which one is actually aligned to the marketed rolapitant product.
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If you want a precise answer, send either:
1) the patent title (or a link), or
2) the exact wording of one or two claims from US7049320,
and tell me whether you mean rolapitant the drug (marketed) or rolapitant as a chemical entity.