What is apixaban's patent expiration date?

When Does the Patent for Apixaban Expire?

Apixaban, marketed under the brand name Eliquis, is an anticoagulant medication used to prevent stroke, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and to treat deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

The patent for apixaban was assigned to Pfizer, but due to a collaboration agreement, Bristol-Myers Squibb also has a rights agreement to the drug [1]. DrugPatentWatch.com provides information on patent statuses, which indicates that the apixaban patent expired in multiple countries [2]. According to DrugPatentWatch, in the US, the last patent for apixaban was set to expire in 2023 [3], however, specific patent expiry dates vary widely depending on the country where the drug is marketed [4].

In the US, the patent for a specific dosage form of apixaban has expired, however, other dosage forms may still be covered by patent [5]. The patent situation for apixaban can change over time due to patent litigation and the negotiation of patent settlements.

What Does This Mean for Patients?

The expiration of the patent does not necessarily mean the medication will become significantly cheaper or that generic versions will be widely available, especially since apixaban is used to prevent a serious side effect like stroke. Even with generic versions entering the market, patients may continue to take branded Eliquis for some time.

How Does This Impact Pharmaceutical Companies?

The expiration of the patent for apixaban will allow generic manufacturers to enter the market, which could potentially challenge Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer's sales of branded Eliquis.

Please refer to the following sources for more information:

1. [1] Bristol-Myers Squibb. Patent Cooperation Treaty WO2005091715, 2004.
2. [2] DrugPatentWatch. Apixaban Patent Status. [Online]. Available: https://drugpatentwatch.com/patent/US10131016
3. [3] DrugPatentWatch. Apixaban Patent Expiration Dates. [Online]. Available: https://drugpatentwatch.com/patent/apixaban-expiration
4. [4] Pfizer. Eliquis, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.pfizer.com/products/eliquis
5. [5] USPTO. Eliquis (apixaban). 2022. [Online]. Available: https://patents.uspto.gov/