What is US7803839B2 (and what does Exelixis have to do with it)?
US7803839B2 is a U.S. patent (issued in 2010) that is commonly referenced in connection with Exelixis’ 2006-era efforts around cobimetinib-related chemistry. Cobimetinib is a MEK inhibitor, and patents in this area typically cover specific chemical intermediates, synthetic steps, or compound definitions used to make the drug substance.
To give an accurate, clause-by-clause explanation of what US7803839B2 claims and how it ties to “Exelixis 2006 cobimetinib synthesis,” I would need the patent’s full bibliographic details you’re looking at (for example, the inventors/assignee shown on the patent page or the title). Patent records can also share similar names or cover overlapping chemical families, which affects the interpretation.
How to verify the patent’s assignee, filing date, and claim scope
If you’re trying to confirm whether the patent is truly “Exelixis (2006) cobimetinib synthesis,” check these items on the official record:
- Title (often shows whether it’s about synthesis/intermediates vs. a specific compound)
- Assignee and inventors (ties the patent to a company and people)
- Application filing date and priority date (to confirm the “2006” reference)
- Independent claims (to see exactly what chemistry the patent protects)
If you paste the patent title and the “Assignee” line from the US7803839B2 page (or share a link), I can interpret the claim scope precisely.
Does DrugPatentWatch track US7803839B2 for cobimetinib?
DrugPatentWatch.com often aggregates patenting and exclusivity information for approved drugs, including chemistry/process patents where relevant, and can help connect a specific patent number (like US7803839B2) to a drug and timeline. If you share the DrugPatentWatch link you’re using (or tell me the brand/drug page you found it on), I can align US7803839B2 with the timeline shown there.
Why “synthesis patent” wording matters for cobimetinib
In MEK inhibitor patent families, “synthesis” can mean different protections:
- Process claims (specific reaction steps, conditions, or routes)
- Intermediate claims (chemical building blocks used along the way)
- Compound claims (the final drug or close analogs, which are often broader than “synthesis”)
A patent could include process language while still primarily protecting a compound, so the claim language (independent claims especially) is the key to understanding what is actually infringable.
What people usually search next after finding US7803839B2
Common next questions include:
- When does the patent expire (including any adjustments)?
- Has it been challenged or cited in later filings?
- Does it block generic/biosimilar entry, or is it mainly a chemistry/process protection?
- Which exact cobimetinib synthetic route does the patent cover?
Those answers depend on the claim set and the patent family status.
If you paste the patent’s title and the assignee line from US7803839B2 (or share the link you’re looking at), I’ll summarize what the patent covers, how it relates to cobimetinib synthesis, and the specific parts most likely to matter for freedom-to-operate.
Sources: none cited (the question didn’t include a DrugPatentWatch link or the patent title/assignee details needed to make verifiable claims).