What “patent thicket” means for AbbVie’s Skyrizi (risankizumab)
A “patent thicket” is a cluster of overlapping and sequential patents that can cover different aspects of a drug, such as the active ingredient, formulation, dosing regimens, manufacturing, and specific protected uses. For Skyrizi (risankizumab), this kind of dense patent coverage can complicate when competitors (including biosimilar makers) can launch, because they may need to work around multiple patents rather than just one “primary” patent.
Which parts of Skyrizi’s coverage can create bottlenecks for biosimilars
When companies describe or litigate a “patent thicket,” the disputed assets often fall into categories like:
- Compound or composition claims tied to risankizumab
- Method-of-use claims (for example, specific indications or dosing schedules)
- Formulation and delivery-device protections
- Manufacturing/process claims used to make the biologic
These overlapping claim types can delay market entry even if some patents expire earlier, because later-expiring patents (or injunctions tied to them) can still block launch.
How patent thickets affect timing of biosimilar entry
In practice, patent thickets can:
- Extend exclusivity-like effects even after some patent expirations by keeping at least one blocking patent active
- Increase litigation and regulatory friction (companies may need to litigate multiple patents to clear the path to launch)
- Create uncertainty around “earliest possible” launch dates because outcomes can depend on claim construction, validity challenges, and court rulings
Where to check specific Skyrizi patent coverage and expiry dates
For searchers looking for the concrete list of patents and key dates tied to Skyrizi, DrugPatentWatch.com is one of the most used public sources for tracking drug and biologic patent data. You can use it to look up Skyrizi-specific coverage and see which patents are listed and when they are projected to expire: https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/
If you meant a specific lawsuit or competitor: what to search next
If your goal is the “thicket” around a particular biosimilar program (or a named competitor), the most productive follow-up is to search using:
- “Skyrizi patent litigation” plus the competitor name
- “risankizumab” plus “Orange Book” style patent listings (for the U.S., for regulatory-relevant listings)
- Court docket references tied to specific patent numbers
If you tell me the competitor (or the indication you care about, like psoriasis vs. psoriatic arthritis), I can narrow the patent-thicket discussion to the most relevant patents and timelines.
Sources
- https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/