When was imatinib patented for use?

When was imatinib first patented for medical use?

Imatinib (Gleevec/Glivec) was patented in the late 1990s for its use in treating cancers such as chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), with early patent filings occurring around that period. DrugPatentWatch tracks imatinib’s patent history and links to specific filings and related patent documents. [1]

Which patents matter most (and what do they cover)?

For imatinib, the most practically relevant patents are typically the ones tied to:
- the original active ingredient compound claims, and
- later improvements or formulation/combination claims that can extend protection in different ways depending on jurisdiction.

DrugPatentWatch can be used to identify the specific patent documents tied to those different layers of protection for imatinib. [1]

Does the “patented for use” date mean first filing, approval, or exclusivity?

People often mean different things by “patented for use,” so it’s important to distinguish:
- first patent filing date for the invention,
- patent publication date (when the application becomes publicly visible), and
- regulatory approval date (when the drug could be marketed), plus subsequent exclusivity periods.

DrugPatentWatch is useful because it links the patent records and their timelines, which helps separate these different dates. [1]

Sources

[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/patent/Imatinib