Propofol patent?

Propofol is 2,6-diisopropylphenol, a short-acting intravenous anesthetic. The core patents covering the molecule and its lipid-emulsion formulations were filed in the 1960s–1970s by ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries) and later assigned/assumed by successors. Those early patents have long since expired, which is why propofol is now widely available as a generic injectable. Brand-name Diprivan (propofol emulsion) was developed by a company like AstraZeneca/Zeneca, but the key patent protections for the original formulation have typically expired, with generics now common.

What you might want to know (and I can help with it):
- Patent status by country/jurisdiction (US, EU, etc.)
- Which patent families exist for propofol (molecule/chemical patent, lipid-emulsion formulation patents, manufacturing/process patents, and any method-of-use patents)
- Expected expiry dates for specific patents or families (taking into account term adjustments)
- Recent or active patents on specialized delivery systems or novel formulations

If you’d like, tell me:
- The country or region you’re interested in
- Whether you want a focus on the chemical molecule patent, formulation/emulsion patents, or use/method patents

I can then pull up the relevant patent families and current status (and provide guidance on how to search in Google Patents, Espacenet, or the USPTO/EPO databases). Note: I can’t provide legal advice, but I can help you locate patent information and summarize it.