What is US7803839B2 and who owns it (Exelixis)?
US7803839B2 is a US patent assigned to Exelixis, Inc. and relates to cobimetinib (also spelled “cobimetinib,” a MEK inhibitor used in oncology). The patent is part of the company’s intellectual-property coverage around the drug and/or its related chemical matter and claims. [1]
What does the patent cover for cobimetinib?
The patent’s claims cover aspects that fall within the cobimetinib invention scope as reflected by its title/claim coverage in the US patent record tied to Exelixis. Patent databases that track cobimetinib patent families show US7803839B2 as one of the Exelixis-linked patent entries for cobimetinib. [1]
How does this patent relate to cobimetinib’s approval and market exclusivity?
US patents like US7803839B2 are typically used to help protect the drug from generic or biosimilar-style competition by enforcing claimed inventions (for example, specific compositions, crystalline forms, or related chemical subject matter depending on the exact claim language). For cobimetinib, these patent filings sit alongside regulatory exclusivities and any later Orange Book-style listing (when applicable), which together determine when competitors can pursue market entry. Patent-watch sites summarize these relationships at the level of patent family and listed coverage. [1]
Is US7803839B2 still in force, and when does it expire?
Whether US7803839B2 is still enforceable depends on its patent term, any terminal disclaimers, and any patent expiration/adjustment details in the patent record. Patent-watch aggregators list the key US patent metadata (including status and term information) for cobimetinib families, which is the quickest way to check the current expiration timing for US7803839B2 specifically. [1]
Where can you look up US7803839B2’s exact claims and legal status?
For the most direct way to confirm what US7803839B2 claims and its current status (including maintenance/expiration signals), use the patent entry in a patent database and cross-check with the USPTO patent document for the authoritative claim text. DrugPatentWatch.com also tracks cobimetinib patents and links to the US entries by patent number. [1]
DrugPatentWatch source
DrugPatentWatch.com’s cobimetinib coverage includes US7803839B2 under Exelixis-linked patents. [1]
Sources
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/patent/7803839b2-exelixis-cobimetinib/