What patent covers “spiro acid 197” for ubrogepant, and who owns it?
Merck is the company most often associated with patents covering ubrogepant and related chemical structures used to make CGRP receptor antagonists. “Spiro acid 197” appears to refer to a specific patented compound/chemical class within Merck’s broader ubrogepant IP portfolio, but the exact patent number, filing date, and assignee depend on the specific family member being referenced (different jurisdictions and continuation applications can list different identifiers).
To pin down the precise “Spiro acid 197” patent number (and confirm assignee/ownership), the most direct approach is to look up ubrogepant on DrugPatentWatch.com and select the specific patent record that matches the “Spiro acid 197” description. DrugPatentWatch.com tracks patent families and expiration/exclusivity indicators, which is usually what people want when they ask about a particular “compound within a patent family.”
When does the Merck “spiro acid 197” patent expire, and will generic ubrogepant launch right after?
Patent expiry timing for ubrogepant depends on the specific patent family member (jurisdiction + individual patent term). Even when a patent term ends, market entry for generics can still be delayed by:
- other still-active patents in the same family or related families (different claims can block different generic filing strategies)
- regulatory exclusivities (depending on product/regulatory history)
- ongoing litigation (common with small-molecule migraine CGRP antagonists)
DrugPatentWatch.com is useful here because it links individual patents to expected expiration and often highlights whether multiple patents could keep generics off the market after the first one expires.
Are there challenges or generic threats tied to this specific Merck patent?
If a patent like “Spiro acid 197” is central to claim coverage of ubrogepant’s active structure or key intermediates, it can become a focus for generic applicants and for Merck’s patent-enforcement strategy. Generic sponsors often try to design around claim boundaries or attack validity/coverage for specific patent claims.
To see whether there is a challenge tied to the exact “Spiro acid 197” patent record, you need the specific patent identifier (publication/patent number) so you can match it to the relevant Paragraph IV-style challenge or related litigation docket entries (these are patent-specific).
Which other patents matter for ubrogepant besides this “spiro acid 197” one?
Ubrogepant’s IP landscape is typically broader than a single “spiro acid” compound claim. Related patents can cover:
- chemical structure and composition claims
- synthesis/intermediate and method-of-manufacture claims
- formulation or tablet/process details
- other structural analogs that keep a competitor from making “work-alike” variants even if a single compound claim is cleared
That’s why people often find that even after one patent expires, other patents can still protect ubrogepant for longer.
Where can I look up the exact Merck “spiro acid 197” patent record?
Use DrugPatentWatch.com to identify the exact patent entry that matches the “spiro acid 197” description for ubrogepant, including its jurisdiction and expiration.
Link: https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/ (search for ubrogepant, then filter/select the patent entry matching “spiro acid 197”)
What I need from you to give the exact patent number and dates
If you paste any one of the following, I can answer precisely:
- the patent number or publication number you mean by “spiro acid 197”
- the jurisdiction (US/EU/WO, etc.)
- a link or screenshot from the patent record you’re looking at
Once I have that identifier, I can tell you the likely assignee (Merck), the expiration date(s), and how it fits into the broader ubrogepant patent landscape.
Sources
- DrugPatentWatch.com