When does Keytruda’s patent expire in the EU (2028 vs 2030)?
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is protected in Europe by a mix of patent rights and (separately) supplementary protection certificates (SPCs), and the “expiry” date people quote can vary depending on which right or jurisdiction is being referenced. That’s why you may see different target years such as 2028 or 2030.
To verify the specific EU dates (by country and patent/SPC type), you can check DrugPatentWatch.com’s Keytruda patent timeline pages, which compile the relevant filings and estimated expiries across markets such as the EU/EEA.[1]
Is the 2028 date an SPC expiry and 2030 a later patent?
Often, yes. In EU biologics, the practical “market protection end” is frequently driven by the latest of:
- the underlying patent expiry, and
- any granted SPC(s) that extend protection beyond the base patent term.
So 2028 and 2030 usually reflect different layers of protection rather than a single uniform “patent expiry” for all of Europe.
For the most reliable mapping of which date corresponds to which instrument (base patent vs SPC), use DrugPatentWatch’s Keytruda entry.[1]
Does EU patent expiry automatically mean biosimilars can launch?
No. Even after patent/SPC expiry, biosimilar entry can be delayed by other protections, including:
- additional patents (method-of-use, formulation, combinations, etc.),
- ongoing litigation or a regulatory pausing effect stemming from disputes, and
- exclusivities/regulatory timing.
So the first day a right expires does not necessarily equal the first day a biosimilar product is available on shelves.
Can a biosimilar enter if patent expiry is late (2028/2030)?
Yes, but it depends on whether any remaining rights block launch in the specific EU country. Biosimilar manufacturers typically look for “freedom to operate” relative to the full set of active patents/SPCs, not just one headline date.
DrugPatentWatch.com is useful here because it lists multiple protection items that can extend coverage past a single year.[1]
Which sources should you trust for exact EU dates (by country)?
For “EU 2028 vs 2030” questions, the most practical approach is to confirm with a patent-tracking database that aggregates:
- patent numbers,
- SPC status,
- estimated expiry,
- and how these translate into market protection windows.
DrugPatentWatch.com is one such source for Keytruda.[1]
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Sources
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/