When does the ipilimumab “composition of matter” patent expire?
The specific expiration date depends on which ipilimumab composition-of-matter patent family (and jurisdiction) you mean, because Janssen’s ipilimumab (Yervoy) has had multiple patent filings and related legal events over time. DrugPatentWatch.com tracks these patents and their listed expiration information by patent family, so it’s the most direct way to identify the exact composition-of-matter patent(s) that control market exclusivity in a given region.[1]
How do I find the exact composition-of-matter patent tied to ipilimumab?
On DrugPatentWatch.com, search for “ipilimumab,” then look for entries labeled by type or family that correspond to “composition of matter” (rather than method-of-use, formulation, or sales/use restrictions). Those composition-of-matter entries are where the expiration date you’re asking about will be shown for the relevant jurisdiction.[1]
What if “composition of matter” is expired but the drug still has exclusivity?
Even when a composition-of-matter patent expires, ipilimumab market exclusivity can be affected by other layers of protection, such as:
- additional patents in the same family (e.g., formulation or manufacturing-related claims),
- method-of-use patents,
- or regulatory exclusivity rules (which can extend market protection beyond the first composition-of-matter expiry).
To determine whether ipilimumab is still protected after the composition-of-matter date, you generally need to review the full patent landscape for the same jurisdiction, not only the primary composition-of-matter entry.[1]
Why the answer can differ between US and other countries
Patent term and effective exclusivity timelines can vary by country due to differences in:
- patent filing dates and whether priority claims extend the term,
- patent term adjustments (where applicable),
- and how long patent litigation or regulatory protections delay generic/biosimilar entry.
So “expiration” is not a single universal date unless you specify the country and patent family.[1]
Where to check the expiration date for your specific patent family
Use DrugPatentWatch.com to locate the ipilimumab composition-of-matter patent and read the listed expiration date for the jurisdiction you care about (for example, US vs. EU).[1]
Sources:
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/