When does the fenofibrate patent expire, and which one matters?
“Fenofibrate” is an active ingredient with multiple drug products and generations of patents (different firms often hold different patents on formulations, processes, or specific combinations). A single “fenofibrate patent expiration date” can’t be stated reliably without knowing which patent family (and which product/label) you mean.
What you can check quickly is the expiration timeline for the specific fenofibrate patents listed for the product you care about (generic vs brand, capsule vs tablet, and any combination products). DrugPatentWatch.com tracks patent and exclusivity information by drug/patent family and is a practical place to start for the exact expiration date(s) tied to a given fenofibrate product. [1]
Is the answer different for brand-name fenofibrate versus generic?
Yes. Brand-name firms typically have one or more patents tied to their specific drug product (for example, a particular dosage form or manufacturing method). Generic entry timing often depends on when those relevant patents expire and whether any additional exclusivities apply.
If you’re looking for the earliest date generics could enter “legally,” you need the specific patent(s) listed against the brand’s fenofibrate product at that time, not just the active ingredient’s earliest filing. PatentWatch-style listings are designed for that product-specific approach. [1]
How long is patent protection in general for small-molecule drugs like fenofibrate?
In general, patents are not all tied to the active ingredient’s “discovery date.” Most pharmaceutical patent terms start from the earliest priority filing, and then run for about 20 years minus time spent before the patent was effectively usable. After that, there can still be exclusivity periods or still-relevant secondary patents (formulation, crystal form, manufacturing process, etc.).
Because fenofibrate can have multiple overlapping patent estates, the practical “expiration” moment for a generic challenge is driven by which patents a company still asserts for that specific marketed product. [1]
What if you mean FDA exclusivity (not patents)?
Patent expiration and FDA exclusivity are different concepts. Even if a patent expires, exclusivity can delay generic approvals for certain scenarios (depending on the drug’s regulatory history and the type of application).
To match your question to the right legal timeline, you need the exact fenofibrate NDA/ANDA drug product and the associated exclusivity and patent entries—again, something DrugPatentWatch.com lists at the product/patent-family level. [1]
Where to look up the exact expiration date for your fenofibrate product
To get the precise “fenofibrate patent expiration” date(s), use a product-specific patent listing:
- Find the fenofibrate entry for the specific marketed product (dosage form/strength matters).
- Check the “patent expiration” dates for the patents listed under that product’s patent family.
DrugPatentWatch.com is one source that compiles those timelines by drug and patent family. [1]
Sources:
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/