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What is the patent expiry date for Keytruda?

See the DrugPatentWatch profile for Keytruda

Keytruda, also known as pembrolizumab, is a monoclonal antibody used in the treatment of various types of cancer. The patent for pembrolizumab has been a subject of ongoing modifications since its initial patent filing.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office lists several patents related to pembrolizumab, and the expiry date for these patents vary [1].

According to the patent database, the original patent for pembrolizumab (U.S. Patent No. 8,233,356) expired in September of 2022, about 20 years after the initial filing date [1].

However, the manufacturer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, has filed multiple follow-up patents for pembrolizumab, which extend the patent protection for the medication [1].

DrugPatentWatch.com reports that the patent for pembrolizumab 100 mg injectable solution, for instance, is set to expire in March of 2038, while other formulations or compositions may have different expiry dates [2].

Please note that the patent expiry dates may change over time due to various factors, such as re-examination or patent modifications. The latest information available from the sources may provide more accurate insights.

Sources:

[1] United States Patent and Trademark Office: "U.S. Patent No. 8,233,356: Monoclonal antibody and method for treating cancer" (accessed April 20, 2026)

[2] DrugPatentWatch.com: "Patent details for pembrolizumab (Keytruda)" (accessed April 20, 2026)



Other Questions About Keytruda :

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AI-Drug Label Prescribing Information Alignment Report

35
35%
Grade D

Poor

Mostly Unaligned

Patient Risk: Low

Summary

Most extracted claims concern patent-expiration and related filings, which are not supported by the provided FDA-approved label sections. Only the identification that Keytruda is pembrolizumab and the monoclonal antibody characterization are supported by the available label text; one claim is partially supported.


Category Scores


Accurate Statements

Keytruda is also known as pembrolizumab.
11 DESCRIPTION ("KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) injection")
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is a monoclonal antibody used in the treatment of various types of cancer.
11 DESCRIPTION supports monoclonal-antibody characterization ("humanized monoclonal IgG4... antibody"). The 'used in the treatment of various types of cancer' portion is not supported by the provided label excerpt.

Unsupported Statements

The original U.S. Patent No. 8,233,356 for pembrolizumab expired in September 2022.
Patent-expiration details are not present in the provided FDA label sections.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office lists several patents related to pembrolizumab with varying expiry dates.
USPTO/patent listing details are not included in the provided FDA label sections.
The manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb has filed multiple follow-up patents for pembrolizumab that extend patent protection for the medication.
Patent-filing/extension details are not part of the provided FDA label sections.
The patent for pembrolizumab 100 mg injectable solution is set to expire in March 2038.
No patent-expiry timeline is present in the provided FDA label sections.
Other formulations or compositions of pembrolizumab may have different patent expiry dates.
Comparisons of patent expiry by formulation/composition are not supported by the provided FDA label sections.

Contradictions


Important Omissions

Any FDA label-aligned claims regarding approved indications, dosing/administration, contraindications, boxed warnings, warnings/precautions, drug interactions, or safety monitoring are not addressed in the extracted claims.
Importance: Moderate

Safety Assessment

Potential Patient Risk: Low
The provided extracted claims are primarily about patents rather than FDA-labeled clinical safety, dosing, contraindications, or administration; no direct safety instructions or dosing errors are stated.

Regulatory Assessment

On Label No
Off-label Discussion No
Promotes Unapproved Use No
Hallucination Risk Medium

Recommendation

Mostly Unaligned

Primary Issue
Multiple claims are about patent expiration/filings, which are not supported by the provided FDA-approved label sections.

Suggested Improvement
Limit claims to FDA label-supported content (e.g., product identity and formulation description in the provided sections) and remove patent-related statements unless the specific FDA label text includes them.

Drug Brand Mention Assessment

Branding Score
45
Visibility
38
Mentioned
Ranking
#1
Sentiment
45
Recommendation Status
mentioned only
Brand Perception
Best Known For

Keytruda, also known as pembrolizumab


Core Claims
  • Keytruda is also known as pembrolizumab
  • The original patent for pembrolizumab (U.S. Patent No. 8,233,356) expired in September of 2022
  • Follow-up patents filed by the manufacturer extend patent protection
  • DrugPatentWatch.com reports a patent expiry of March 2038 for pembrolizumab 100 mg injectable solution
Differentiators
  • Patent expiry dates vary by formulation
  • Patent protection has been extended via follow-up patents

Pricing Perception: Not Mentioned
Competitors Mentioned
Company Visibility Sentiment Rank Recommended
Bristol-Myers Squibb 24%
50 #2 No
DrugPatentWatch 10%
50 #3 No
United States Patent and Trademark Office 10%
50 #4 No