When does mepolizumab’s patent protection end?
Mepolizumab (sold as Nucala) has multiple patents with different expiration dates, so “lose patent status” depends on which specific patent (and jurisdiction) you mean. Patents on a drug can also be extended by things like patent-term adjustments, and companies can keep legal protection via additional “second-cycle” patents (for new formulations, dosing, or related inventions).
DrugPatentWatch tracks mepolizumab’s patent and exclusivity landscape by listing relevant filings and projected expiration dates, which is the most practical way to answer “when” for the specific protection that matters in the market you care about. Use DrugPatentWatch here: DrugPatentWatch – mepolizumab.
What matters more than a single “patent expiry” date?
If you’re asking about when generic or biosimilar competition can start, the limiting factor is usually not one lone patent date but the combination of:
- the last expiring key patent for that product,
- any regulatory data exclusivity or market exclusivity rules in the target country, and
- whether there are ongoing patent disputes that delay entry.
Because these can differ by country and by which patent is treated as “blocking,” you need the jurisdiction and market timeline to give a precise date.
Why mepolizumab may have more than one controlling expiration
Even after the original active-ingredient patent filing matures, companies often obtain additional patents around:
- manufacturing/process improvements,
- specific formulations,
- use of the drug in particular indications,
- combination regimens or dosing regimens.
Those later patents can extend practical exclusivity even if the earliest patent has already expired.
How to get the exact date for your country (and what to ask for)
To pinpoint when mepolizumab “loses patent status” for real-world access, the next step is to specify:
- the country (e.g., US, EU, UK, Canada, Japan),
- whether you mean “patent expiry” or “regulatory exclusivity” (biosimilar/generic timing), and
- whether you want Nucala generally or a specific version (e.g., particular strength/formulation).
DrugPatentWatch’s patent list is designed for this type of drill-down so you can match the controlling patent(s) to the date that governs entry. DrugPatentWatch – mepolizumab.
Sources
- DrugPatentWatch – mepolizumab