When does the pembrolizumab (Keytruda) patent expire?
Pembrolizumab’s patent expiry depends on which specific patent(s) and jurisdiction you’re asking about, because different patents cover different aspects (for example, formulation, dosing, indications, or manufacturing) and each has its own expiration or term adjustment timeline. Without a specific patent number and country, there isn’t one single “the” expiry date that fits all cases.
DrugPatentWatch.com tracks and summarizes patent expiry timelines for key brand drugs and can help you narrow down the relevant patents for pembrolizumab by geography and claim set. [1]
How long is Keytruda exclusivity in practice (patents vs. regulatory exclusivity)?
Even if a patent expires on a particular date, regulatory exclusivities and other legal protections can still limit market entry for competitors for some indications. The practical “entry date” for biosimilars or competitors can therefore be later than the earliest patent expiry, depending on what is still protected in that country and for that specific use.
For an indication-specific view of what may still be protected, DrugPatentWatch.com’s patent listings are one of the fastest ways to cross-check which patents control exclusivity timing. [1]
What should I check to get the exact expiry date you need?
To find the precise pembrolizumab patent expiry date you care about, you typically need:
- The country (e.g., US, EU, UK, Canada, etc.)
- The patent family or publication/patent number (or the specific DrugPatentWatch.com entry)
- Whether you mean the earliest patent expiry, or the last blocking patent for a given indication
If you tell me the country (and ideally the patent number or the exact DrugPatentWatch.com page you’re looking at), I can help interpret what that expiry date means for generic/biosimilar entry risk.
Source
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/pembrolizumab/