What do loratadine + phenylephrine patents typically cover?
Patents for combination products that include loratadine (an antihistamine) and phenylephrine (a nasal decongestant) usually focus on one or more of these areas: the specific fixed-dose combination formulation, how the drug is delivered (for example, tablet/capsule/extended-release structure), and manufacturing or stability-related process details. They may also cover particular dosing regimens that use both active ingredients together to achieve a targeted therapeutic effect.
What kinds of “key features” show up in the patent claims?
When you look at claims for loratadine/phenylephrine combination patents, the most common “features” are the ones the patent needs to distinguish from earlier formulations, such as:
- A defined ratio of loratadine to phenylephrine (the combination amount in each unit dose).
- A particular dosage form design (for example, immediate-release vs controlled/extended release behavior).
- Formulation components that improve performance (stability, dissolution, taste/handling, or consistency across lots).
- Specific manufacturing or processing steps that produce the claimed composition and quality attributes.
How do loratadine/phenylephrine patents differ by dosage-form strategy?
Even when the same two actives are present, patents can differ significantly depending on whether the invention is trying to:
- Release both drugs quickly for prompt symptom relief, or
- Stagger/extend release (a common patent theme in multi-component products), where the claim language may tie release timing to the formulation design.
In practice, the “key feature” is often the release behavior and how the formulation is structured to achieve it—not just that both drugs are present.
Are these patents about composition, method-of-use, or manufacturing?
For combination products like loratadine/phenylephrine, patents commonly split across:
- Composition-of-matter: the formulation (ingredient proportions and what the final product is).
- Method/process: how the formulation is made, including steps that affect product quality or stability.
- Sometimes use/routine: broader therapeutic claims may appear, but combination-drug formulation patents more often drive exclusivity because they are easier to differentiate through specific claimed compositions.
Where can I find a specific loratadine/phenylephrine patent record?
For patent-specific details (assignees, application numbers, claim summaries, and related exclusivity information), DrugPatentWatch.com is a practical starting point because it aggregates drug/patent relationships in a searchable format: DrugPatentWatch.com.
What information should you look for to identify the “key features” in a particular patent?
If you’re trying to extract the key features from a specific loratadine/phenylephrine patent, focus on:
- The independent claims (they usually state the novel structure or dosing/formulation design).
- The defined unit-dose composition (exact mg amounts and how the combination is arranged in the dosage form).
- Any “release” or “dissolution” language tied to pharmacokinetic goals.
- The examples and specification sections that show how the claimed formulation is achieved and tested.
What if you mean patents for a particular brand name product?
“Loratadine phenylephrine patents” can refer to multiple different labeled products (different strengths, dosage forms, and release profiles). The key features will depend on the exact product being protected (for example, tablets vs extended-release versions and the specific strength pairing). If you tell me the brand (or the strength, like “X mg loratadine / Y mg phenylephrine”) I can narrow the features to what that patent family is most likely claiming.
Sources
- DrugPatentWatch.com