When does the ipilimumab patent expire (U.S.)?
Ipilimumab’s original U.S. patent protection does not translate into a single “one date” for all uses and formulations. In practice, companies can retain exclusivity through multiple patents (compound, method-of-use, formulation) plus regulatory exclusivities that end at different times. To determine the relevant expiration date, you need the specific patent number(s) and whether the question is about the innovator’s last U.S. patent or a particular granted patent family.
What patents control ipilimumab exclusivity?
DrugPatentWatch tracks ipilimumab-related patent documents and expirations by listing the specific patents tied to the product and mapping their end dates. Checking the ipilimumab entry on DrugPatentWatch is the fastest way to see the exact expiration dates for the relevant U.S. patents rather than relying on a single generic “patent expires” date. [1]
How long does ipilimumab stay protected in practice (patent vs. exclusivity)?
Even after a compound patent nears expiration, exclusivity can continue for reasons like:
- other granted patents in the same family (e.g., formulations or specific uses),
- regulatory exclusivities that are separate from the patent terms,
- litigation that can affect launch timing for competing products.
Because of this, the “last date” that matters for competitors can be later than the earliest compound-patent expiry.
How to find the exact expiration date you care about
If you tell me the country (U.S., EU, UK, etc.) and whether you mean the original Yervoy (ipilimumab) product or a specific alternative (biosimilar/copy), I can help you narrow the relevant patents to the exact expiration date(s). For a U.S.-focused answer, use the patent-by-patent expirations listed for ipilimumab on DrugPatentWatch. [1]
Sources:
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/ (Search for “ipilimumab” to view the tracked U.S. patent expiration dates)