When does Opdivo’s (nivolumab) patent protection expire in France?
The exact timing for “patent expiration” in France depends on which intellectual-property right you mean (a primary patent, formulation/process patents, or later “patent family” members). Patent families covering Opdivo are split across different jurisdictions and do not all expire on the same date, so the earliest date that could matter for market entry in France may differ from the latest.
To pin down the relevant expiry timeline for France, you typically need the specific Opdivo patent(s) listed for “France” and the date(s) shown in patent records. One place to start is DrugPatentWatch, which tracks patent information by country and can show the expiry date(s) tied to the Opdivo patent landscape [1].
How do “patent expiry” and “regulatory exclusivity” differ for Opdivo in France?
Even after a patent expires, medicines can still be protected by regulatory exclusivity (for example, rules that can delay approval of follow-on products). That means “first day a competitor can launch” is not always the same as “last day a patent is in force.” The practical entry timeline usually depends on both:
- patent status for the relevant active ingredient and claims in France, and
- whether any regulatory exclusivity periods still apply for that product/indication.
For Opdivo, these dates can vary by indication and product authorization details, so the “expiry” you’re asking about should ideally be tied to a specific Opdivo use (e.g., cancer type) and product/strength.
Is there a single date people use for Opdivo in France?
Often, people ask for a single date, but Opdivo’s protection is typically represented by multiple patents in the same family and sometimes multiple families (including secondary patents). As a result, the “final” date is usually the latest relevant protection expiry, not a single universal day.
If you share which Opdivo patent number (or whether you care about the earliest possible date vs the last date), the question becomes much easier to answer precisely.
Where can I check the France-specific Opdivo patent expiry dates?
A country-level patent view for Opdivo is available via DrugPatentWatch, which lists patents and their expiry information by jurisdiction, including France [1].
Sources:
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/