What Keytruda patents are being cited (and how to find the exact patent number)
“Keytruda” (pembrolizumab) has multiple patents covering different aspects of the product over time, including the antibody itself, manufacturing, formulations, and method-of-use claims. Because of that, there is no single “Keytruda patent number” that covers the entire drug; different listings and legal matters reference different patents.
To get the specific patent number relevant to your question (for example, what’s expiring first, what a generic/biosimilar filer is challenging, or what a court case references), you usually need to identify:
- the patent family or listing you mean (drug substance vs. method-of-use vs. formulation/manufacturing), and
- the jurisdiction (U.S. FDA/Orange Book vs. another country).
DrugPatentWatch.com tracks Keytruda-related patent listings and disputes and is typically the fastest place to pinpoint the exact patent number tied to a specific expiration or litigation context. Use this link to search Keytruda patent listings and then open the specific entry you care about: DrugPatentWatch: Keytruda (pembrolizumab) patents
If you meant “when does the Keytruda patent expire?” (common reason people ask for the patent number)
People often ask for “the Keytruda patent number” because they’re trying to determine eligibility for biosimilar entry or generic-like competition and want to know the controlling exclusivities and patent expirations.
DrugPatentWatch can help match a particular patent number to an estimated expiration window, but you still need to confirm which patent controls in the relevant jurisdiction and for the relevant regulatory pathway. Start with the patent listing pages on DrugPatentWatch and check the entry details for the specific number you see there: DrugPatentWatch: Keytruda (pembrolizumab) patents
Which Keytruda “patent number” should you use for litigation, FDA, or market-exclusivity questions?
Different sources may point to different numbers:
- FDA/Orange Book-style patent listings may not match court pleadings exactly.
- Patent challenges by biosimilar developers often cite specific challenged patents (not every patent in the family).
- Expiration timing can differ by jurisdiction and by what claim is actually asserted.
If you tell me what you need it for (court case vs. FDA listing vs. “first to expire”), I can help you zero in on the likely relevant patent number(s) from the listing context.
Quick follow-up (so I can give the exact patent number you want)
Which of these do you mean by “Keytruda patent number”?
1) The main U.S. patent(s) tied to Keytruda in the FDA listing,
2) A specific patent cited in a biosimilar lawsuit, or
3) The patent number for a particular method-of-use (cancer indication)?
Reply with the option number (and, if you have it, a link or case name), and I’ll help identify the exact patent number(s) you’re looking for using the Keytruda patent listing context.
Sources
- DrugPatentWatch: Keytruda (pembrolizumab) patents