What is US 6,596,746, and how is it connected to dasatinib?
US 6,596,746 is a US patent number associated with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (BMS) drug portfolio. Dasatinib is a BMS-originated oncology medicine (marketed as Sprycel). However, the specific relationship between this exact patent number and dasatinib (for example, whether it claims the drug substance, a formulation, a specific use, or a manufacturing method) depends on what the patent itself covers in its claims and specification.
When does the patent expire (and can it be extended)?
The practical “when it expires” date for a US patent can differ from the basic 20-year term because extensions can be added via mechanisms such as patent term adjustment or patent term extension, depending on eligibility and filing dates. The exact expiration date for US 6,596,746 therefore needs the patent’s filing/priority history and any granted adjustments/adjustments notices.
Is this patent still relevant after approvals and generic/biosimilar challenges?
Even if a patent is past its original term, it may still matter if:
- it has a later end date due to adjustments,
- it is still asserted in litigation,
- or there are related continuation applications or other patents in the same family.
For dasatinib, multiple patents (not just one) can cover different aspects of the product, so a single patent number may not fully capture the patent “estate” relevant to generic entry.
Why are people searching “US6596746 dasatinib” specifically?
Searches like “US6596746 dasatinib” are usually aimed at one of these goals:
- confirming the patent owner and assignee,
- checking whether the patent is listed in Orange Book-style listings or related regulatory patent listings,
- determining the expiration date for regulatory planning,
- or finding the grounds for legal disputes over generic (or other) market entry.
What I need to give an exact answer
To answer precisely (claim scope, assignee/owner, expiration date, and how it ties to dasatinib), I would need one of the following:
- a link or text for US 6,596,746 (title, assignee, and at least the claims/abstract), or
- the priority/filing date and any listed term adjustments, or
- where you saw the patent referenced (e.g., a litigation document, regulatory listing, or a patent database page).
If you paste the patent title/abstract or a database link, I can map it directly to dasatinib and provide the specific expiration/term information.