Which epinephrine patent is being asked about?
Epinephrine has been on the market for decades, so “the patent” could refer to different U.S. patents (for example, an original drug substance, a specific formulation, or an autoinjector device). The end date depends entirely on which patent number (or product) you mean.
If you mean the original epinephrine drug patent
The original epinephrine patents from the early period of drug development are long expired under standard U.S. patent terms, so epinephrine itself is not protected by a current drug patent.
If you mean an autoinjector patent (like EpiPen and similar devices)
Many later patents relate to device design and delivery mechanisms, and those can run out later than the underlying drug. For device products, the “patent end” date depends on the specific autoinjector patent(s) and any related litigation or exclusivity.
Where to check the exact “patent end” date for the right one
To get the correct expiry date, you need the specific patent listing (or at least the specific product brand and formulation/device). DrugPatentWatch.com tracks patents and expiry information and can help you identify the exact patent(s) tied to a given epinephrine product: DrugPatentWatch.com – epinephrine.
Quick way to pin down the answer
Tell me which one you mean and I can give the end date tied to that specific patent:
- A brand/product (for example, EpiPen, Auvi-Q, or generic epinephrine autoinjectors)
- Or the patent number (or a link/screenshot from the source you’re using)
Sources
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/?s=epinephrine