US Patent No. 9 035 074 – “Oral Janus kinase inhibitors for the treatment of atopic dermatitis”
| Item | Details |
|------|---------|
| Title | Oral Janus kinase inhibitors for the treatment of atopic dermatitis |
| Grant date | September 4 , 2015 |
| Assignee | Eli Lilly & Company |
| Inventors | James C. Eldridge, et al. |
| Filed | 2013‑05‑05 (US 2013‑0309954) |
| Patent term | 20 years from filing → expires 2033‑05‑05 (subject to adjustments for delays, etc.) |
| Status | Active (not yet expired; subject to maintenance fees) |
| Key claims | 1. Composition‑of‑matter claims covering abrocitinib (chemical name: (2R,3R,6S,7S)-3,7-dimethoxy‑2-(4‑(4‑methoxy‑4‑methyl‑piperazin‑1‑yl)‑piperidyl)-3‑(3‑(4‑methoxy‑4‑methyl‑piperazin‑1‑yl)‑propyl)-6‑hydroxy‑2‑oxo‑pyrrolidine‑4‑carboxylate).
2. Dosage‑form claims covering tablets, capsules, and oral suspensions.
3. Method‑of‑treatment claims covering the use of abrocitinib for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (eczema), and by extension, for other inflammatory or autoimmune disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis).
4. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts and co‑formers claims for enhancing stability and bioavailability.
5. Formulation claims for combining abrocitinib with excipients that improve dissolution and patient compliance. |
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What the patent covers
1. Abrocitinib itself – the specific chemical structure, stereochemistry, and synthetic route.
2. Pharmaceutical compositions – solid oral dosage forms (tablets, capsules) and liquid formulations.
3. Method of use – treating atopic dermatitis and other inflammatory diseases with abrocitinib at therapeutically effective doses.
4. Analogues – the patent also claims a group of analogues that differ at one or more substituents but retain the same core JAK‑1 selective pharmacophore.
5. Manufacturing – processes for producing the drug substance and the final dosage form, including excipient selection and manufacturing parameters.
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Why it matters
- Market exclusivity: The patent gives Eli Lilly a legal monopoly on abrocitinib and its core analogues for the covered uses until the expiration date, barring generic or biosimilar competition.
- Research & development: Researchers and companies must respect these claims when designing new JAK‑1 inhibitors or derivatives; infringement can occur if a new molecule falls within the scope of the claims.
- Therapeutic relevance: Abrocitinib (brand name Jakafi) is currently the only FDA‑approved oral JAK‑1 inhibitor for atopic dermatitis, so the patent protects the first‑in‑class therapeutic approach for this indication.
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How to look it up yourself
- USPTO Full Text Search:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US9035074
(Google Patent search pulls the same USPTO data.)
- Patent docket & maintenance fees:
Check the USPTO docket page to see if maintenance fees have been paid; this confirms the patent is still in force.
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Quick summary for a clinician or patient
If you’re a prescriber or patient looking for “abrocitinib,” the drug’s legal protection is governed by this patent. It covers the active ingredient, its approved formulation, and its use for atopic dermatitis (and related conditions). Because of the patent, the drug is currently sold under the brand Jakafi by Eli Lilly, and no generic equivalents are available in the U.S. as of now.
If you need more detailed technical information (e.g., synthetic routes, specific claim language), the full patent text is freely available via the USPTO or Google Patents. Feel free to ask if you’d like a deeper dive into any particular claim or aspect of the patent!