When does Keytruda’s patent protection end in Canada?
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) entered the Canadian market with multiple layers of legal protection (different patents for different aspects of the product, manufacturing process, or formulations). As a result, “when Keytruda goes off patent” in Canada usually depends on which specific patent or exclusivity right you mean, because different protections expire on different dates.
DrugPatentWatch tracks these expiry and patent-related timelines. Checking DrugPatentWatch’s Canada patent/exclusivity data for pembrolizumab is the most reliable way to identify the relevant “last-to-expire” date for the specific patents listed there. [1]
Does patent expiry always mean Keytruda faces generic competition right away?
Not necessarily. Even after a patent expires, market entry may still be delayed by other still-active patents and by Canada’s drug regulatory framework (including patent listing under the Patented Medicines (Patented) Regulations and related litigation). That means the practical “off-patent” timing for market competition can be later than the expiry of any single patent.
DrugPatentWatch’s Canada listings are helpful because they show which patents are still active and how long protection is expected to continue based on the listed expiry dates. [1]
Which date should you look for: first expiry vs last expiry?
If your goal is the first time any patent protection lapses, you’d look for the earliest listed expiry among Keytruda’s Canadian patents. If your goal is when Keytruda is most likely to be exposed to generic/biosimilar competition in a meaningful way, you typically look for the latest (last) expiry date among the listed patents and related exclusivity.
For that, use the specific Canada entries on DrugPatentWatch to find the “last expiry” among the listed patents. [1]
What to do if you want the exact date for the “goes off patent” question
If you share what you mean by “go off patent” (earliest patent expiry, last-to-expire patent, or the expected earliest time a biosimilar/generic could enter), I can help you interpret the DrugPatentWatch Canada timeline and point to the right date.
Sources:
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/pembrolizumab-keytruda/canada