Atorvastatin patent expiration date?

When does the atorvastatin (Lipitor) patent expire?

The exact “patent expiration date” depends on which type of protection you mean (original compound patent vs. later formulation/use patents and any patent term adjustments). For atorvastatin, multiple patents and exclusivity events can extend market protection beyond the first filing, so there is rarely a single date that covers all protections.

What does DrugPatentWatch say about atorvastatin’s patent status?

DrugPatentWatch tracks patent and exclusivity timelines for specific drugs and markets, which is usually the most reliable way to find the relevant expiration date(s) for atorvastatin in practice. You can look up atorvastatin’s listed patents and their estimated expiry dates on DrugPatentWatch here: DrugPatentWatch – atorvastatin

How to find the exact date you need (country and patent type)

If you need a specific expiration date for planning, investing, or procurement, you typically need to specify:
- Country/market (e.g., US vs. EU vs. UK), because legal protection periods and adjustments differ.
- Patent type (brand “primary” patent vs. secondary patents such as formulations, polymorphs, dosages, or manufacturing changes).
- Whether you want “last patent expiry” or a narrower date tied to a particular patent number.

If you tell me the country (and whether you mean Lipitor brand exclusivity or a specific patent family), I can help interpret which expiration date(s) are usually used for that purpose.

Sources

1. DrugPatentWatch – atorvastatin