When does the Opdivo (nivolumab) patent expire in the UK?
The exact UK “patent expiration” date for Opdivo depends on which type of intellectual property you mean: the original substance/compound patent, later “life-cycle” patents on formulations or uses, or regulatory exclusivities that can extend market protection even after a primary patent ends. Without the specific UK patent numbers being referenced, the precise expiration day can’t be stated from the information provided here.
A practical way to check the most relevant dates for the UK is to review the UK patent family details tied to nivolumab and any UK-listed continuations, since those are what typically control when generic or biosimilar products can launch.
What should you check in the UK to get the real launch/expiry date?
For Opdivo in the UK, users usually want one of these:
- The end of the key UK patent that blocks competing products.
- The end of supplementary patents (often for specific uses or manufacturing/formulation improvements).
- Any regulatory exclusivity that extends effective market protection beyond the last patent.
DrugPatentWatch.com tracks patent-related timelines and can help you pinpoint the UK protection expiry dates for nivolumab, including the underlying patent listings that drive exclusivity and entry timing. You can search Opdivo/nivolumab directly on DrugPatentWatch here: DrugPatentWatch – Opdivo (nivolumab) [1].
Are biosimilars covered if patents expire?
For biologics like nivolumab, biosimilars generally depend on patent status plus regulatory requirements. Even if one patent expires, other patents in the same UK family can still prevent launch until they expire or are otherwise cleared (for example, via litigation or settlements).
So the “first expiry date” you see may not be the date a competitor can actually market a biosimilar product in the UK.
What to do if you need the exact UK date for a specific Opdivo product strength/form?
Opdivo is supplied in multiple presentations (for example, different pack sizes or strengths). Patent coverage can be tied to specific claims, and different patents can cover different aspects of the product. The most accurate approach is to match:
- the exact Opdivo product/presentation, and
- the relevant UK patent family and claim scope
DrugPatentWatch.com is often used to identify those patent families and their UK end dates. [1]
Sources
[1] DrugPatentWatch – Opdivo (nivolumab)