Alectinib patent expiration date?

Alectinib (brand name Alecensa) is an ALK‑inhibitor approved in the U.S. in 2015. Its commercial protection is held by a family of patents that were filed from the mid‑2000s to early 2010s. Because the U.S. (and many other jurisdictions) grant 20‑year patent life from the filing date, the key patents that cover alectinib are set to expire sometime between the late‑2020s and the early‑2030s. Below is a quick snapshot of the most relevant U.S. patents and their expected expiration dates:

Key points

• The dates above are calculated assuming the standard 20‑year term from filing and do not account for any extensions or "patent term extensions" that could add a few months or a year.
• In the United States, a marketing exclusivity period of 5 years for a brand‑name drug and a 5‑year exclusivity for the first generic application can also delay generic entry even after patent expiry.
• In many other jurisdictions (e.g., EU, Canada, Japan) the filing dates are similar, so the expiration dates are broadly the same, though local laws can slightly shift the exact date.

What does this mean for patients and prescribers?

• In the U.S. and most major markets, alectinib is still under brand‑name exclusivity; generic versions are not yet available.
• As the patents approach expiration (late 2020s‑early 2030s) and any exclusivity periods lapse, generic manufacturers may seek approval and the drug could become cheaper and more widely accessible.

If you need the exact, up‑to‑date expiration date for a specific patent in a specific country – the best source is the official patent office database (e.g., USPTO, EPO, JPO). Searching the patent number there will give you the precise filing, grant, and expiry dates.