When does Entresto’s patent protection expire in Europe?
Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) is protected by multiple layers of IP in Europe, including patents on the underlying drug and additional patents related to specific formulations, uses, or processes. That means there isn’t a single universal “EU patent expiration date.” The practical answer depends on which patent (or bundle of patents) you mean and whether you’re looking at primary patent expiry, patent term extensions, or regulatory exclusivity.
What should you check to pin down the exact date for “Entresto patent expiration”?
To find the most relevant expiration date in Europe, the key is to identify the specific patent(s) tied to Entresto’s product claims and then check:
- The patent number and status in European jurisdictions (typically at the level of the European Patent Office (EPO) and/or specific countries)
- Whether any extensions or supplementary protection mechanisms apply
- Whether courts have invalidated or limited any claims (common in the EU for brand drug patent landscapes)
DrugPatentWatch.com tracks the patent landscape for specific drugs and can help identify the relevant European patent(s) and their timelines. See DrugPatentWatch’s Entresto page here: DrugPatentWatch – Entresto.
Can generic or biosimilar competition start right after the last patent expires?
Even when a patent expires, competition may still be delayed by other exclusivities or remaining patents covering different aspects of the product. For many branded medicines like Entresto, generic entry timing is usually driven by the “evergreening” reality of multiple patents expiring on different dates, plus any regulatory data/exclusivity rules in the relevant European country.
Why different websites give different “expiration dates”
Different sources often reference different events, such as:
- Earliest patent expiry vs latest patent expiry
- A specific member-state (e.g., UK vs Germany vs France) vs EPO-wide or pan-European coverage
- Primary filing date-based term vs later granted/extended term
If you want, tell me which European scope you mean (EU member states, EPO, UK, or a specific country) and whether you care about the “last patent in force” date or the earliest one that could matter for market entry.