Mekinist is a drug owned by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. It is protected by 18 US drug patents filed from 2013 to 2024. Out of these, 17 drug patents are active and 1 has expired. Mekinist's patents have been open to challenges since 22 December, 2024. Based on its patents and exclusivities, its generic launch date is estimated to be Feb 28, 2034. Details of Mekinist's patents and their expiration are given in the table below.
| Drug Patent Number | Drug Patent Title | Drug Patent Expiry | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| These drug patents protect the active ingredient(API) of the drug. Only drug patent owner can launch products that use this active ingredient until these patents expire. | |||
| US8703781 | Pharmaceutical combination of MEK inhibitor and B-RAF inhibitors |
Oct, 2030
(5 years from now) | Active |
| US7378423 | Pyrimidine compound and medical use thereof |
May, 2027
(1 year, 10 months from now) | Active |
| These drug patents focus on the other aspects of the drug like dosage, mode of administration (oral, tablet, capsules, liquids etc). | |||
|
US10869869 (Pediatric) | Method of adjuvant cancer treatment |
Feb, 2034
(8 years from now) | Active |
| US10869869 | Method of adjuvant cancer treatment |
Aug, 2033
(8 years from now) | Active |
|
US9399021 (Pediatric) | Pharmaceutical composition |
Jul, 2032
(7 years from now) | Active |
|
US9271941 (Pediatric) | Pharmaceutical composition |
Jul, 2032
(7 years from now) | Active |
|
US9155706 (Pediatric) | Pharmaceutical composition |
Jul, 2032
(7 years from now) | Active |
|
US8580304 (Pediatric) | Pharmaceutical composition |
Jul, 2032
(7 years from now) | Active |
| US9399021 | Pharmaceutical composition |
Jan, 2032
(6 years from now) | Active |
| US9271941 | Pharmaceutical composition |
Jan, 2032
(6 years from now) | Active |
| US8580304 | Pharmaceutical composition |
Jan, 2032
(6 years from now) | Active |
| US9155706 | Pharmaceutical composition |
Jan, 2032
(6 years from now) | Active |
|
US8703781 (Pediatric) | Pharmaceutical combination of MEK inhibitor and B-RAF inhibitors |
Apr, 2031
(5 years from now) | Active |
|
US8952018 (Pediatric) | Pharmaceutical combination of MEK inhibitor and B-Raf inhibitors |
Apr, 2031
(5 years from now) | Active |
| US8952018 | Pharmaceutical combination of MEK inhibitor and B-Raf inhibitors |
Oct, 2030
(5 years from now) | Active |
|
US7378423 (Pediatric) | Pyrimidine compound and medical use thereof |
Nov, 2027
(2 years from now) | Active |
|
US8835443 (Pediatric) | Pyrimidine compound and medical use thereof |
Dec, 2025
(4 months from now) | Active |
| US8835443 | Pyrimidine compound and medical use thereof |
Jun, 2025
(a month ago) |
Expired
|
A patent's expiry date may change depending upon legal activities going on that patent. Critical activities like abandoning of a patent, term extension of a patent or amendment of its claims can increase or decrease the life of a patent hence affecting its expiry date and in turn affecting the generic launch date of that drug. Tracking these ongoing activities on a patent application helps to keep an eye on the latest developments in the patent process of the drug which can give an idea of how early a drug's generic could be available. The next section provides a list of recent legal activities on Mekinist's patents.
Latest Legal Activities on Mekinist's Patents
Given below is the list of recent legal activities going on the following patents of Mekinist.
| Activity | Date | Patent Number |
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Payment of Maintenance Fee, 4th Year, Large Entity | 05 Jun, 2024 | US10869869 |
| Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Year, Large Entity | 10 Jan, 2024 | US9399021 |
| Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Year, Large Entity | 16 Aug, 2023 | US9271941 |
| Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Year, Large Entity | 29 Mar, 2023 | US9155706 |
| Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Year, Large Entity | 27 Jul, 2022 | US8952018 |
| Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Year, Large Entity | 06 Oct, 2021 | US8703781 |
| Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Year, Large Entity | 28 Apr, 2021 | US8580304 |
| Recordation of Patent Grant Mailed Critical | 22 Dec, 2020 | US10869869 |
| Patent Issue Date Used in PTA Calculation Critical | 22 Dec, 2020 | US10869869 |
| Email Notification Critical | 03 Dec, 2020 | US10869869 |
FDA has granted several exclusivities to Mekinist. Till the time these exclusivities are active, no other company can market a generic or bioequivalent version of Mekinist, regardless of the status of it's patents. These exclusivities hence play a crucial role in delaying the generic launch. Given below are details of the exclusivities granted to Mekinist.
Exclusivity Information
Mekinist holds 18 exclusivities out of which 14 have expired. Its last outstanding exclusivity is set to expire in 2030. Details of Mekinist's exclusivity codes and their expiration dates are given below.
| Drug Exclusivity | Drug Exclusivity Expiration |
|---|---|
| New Indication(I-678) | Jan 08, 2017 |
| New Chemical Entity Exclusivity(NCE) | May 29, 2018 |
| M(M-170) | Nov 20, 2018 |
| Orphan Drug Exclusivity(ODE) | May 29, 2020 |
| Orphan Drug Exclusivity(ODE-48) | May 29, 2020 |
| New Indication(I-745) | Jun 22, 2020 |
| Orphan Drug Exclusivity(ODE-57) | Jan 08, 2021 |
| New Indication(I-778) | Apr 30, 2021 |
| New Indication(I-781) | May 04, 2021 |
| M(M-246) | Oct 06, 2022 |
| Orphan Drug Exclusivity(ODE-148) | Jun 22, 2024 |
| Orphan Drug Exclusivity(ODE-182) | Apr 30, 2025 |
| Orphan Drug Exclusivity(ODE-183) | May 04, 2025 |
| New Indication(I-895) | Jun 22, 2025 |
| Pediatric Exclusivity(PED) | Sep 16, 2026 |
| New Indication(I-908) | Mar 16, 2026 |
| New Product(NP) | Mar 16, 2026 |
| Orphan Drug Exclusivity(ODE-428) | Mar 16, 2030 |
Several oppositions have been filed on Mekinist's European patents. EP oppositions can significantly impact the timeline for the generic launch of drugs. If an opposition results in the revocation or amendment of a patent, it can shorten the exclusivity period of the original drug. This can lead to an earlier entry of generic versions into the market. To help you estimate the potential early arrival of Mekinist's generic, the next section provides detailed information on ongoing and past EP oppositions related to Mekinist patents.
Mekinist's Oppositions Filed in EPO
Mekinist has faced multiple oppositions in the European Patent Office. The earliest opposition was filed on Mar 12, 2020, by Generics (Uk) Ltd. This opposition was filed on patent number EP10824148A. Click below to reveal the latest opposition data.
| Application | Filing Date | Opposition Party | Legal Status |
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| EP19174594A | May, 2023 | Brand Murray Fuller LLP | Granted and Under Opposition |
| EP19174594A | May, 2023 | STADA Arzneimittel AG | Granted and Under Opposition |
| EP13835019A | Jun, 2022 | Generics [UK] Limited | Granted and Under Opposition |
| EP13835019A | Jun, 2022 | Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd | Granted and Under Opposition |
| EP13835019A | Jun, 2022 | STADA Arzneimittel AG | Granted and Under Opposition |
| EP11849974A | Apr, 2021 | Generics [UK] Limited | Granted and Under Opposition |
| EP11849974A | Apr, 2021 | Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd | Granted and Under Opposition |
| EP10824148A | Mar, 2020 | Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd | Opposition rejected |
| EP10824148A | Mar, 2020 | Generics (UK) Ltd | Opposition rejected |
US patents provide insights into the exclusivity only within the United States, but Mekinist is protected by patents in multiple countries. Understanding the full scope of patent protection is crucial in strategizing market entry. By looking at the broader patent landscape, you can identify markets with weaker patent protection which could be ideal generic entry points. The following section offers details on Mekinist's family patents as well as insights into ongoing legal events on those patents.
Mekinist's Family Patents
Explore Our Curated Drug Screens
Generic Launch
Generic Release Date:
Mekinist's generic launch date based on the last expiry date of its patents and exclusivities combined is estimated to be Feb 28, 2034 (This date is subject to change depending upon the patent filing activities by the drug owner or exclusivity additions to its drug application)
Mekinist Generic API suppliers:
Trametinib Dimethyl Sulfoxide is the generic name for the brand Mekinist. 1 company has already filed for the generic of Mekinist. Check out the entire list of companies who have already received approval for Mekinist's generic
About Mekinist
Mekinist is a drug owned by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. It is used for treating various cancers, including melanoma, anaplastic thyroid cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and low-grade glioma, in combination with dabrafenib. Mekinist uses Trametinib Dimethyl Sulfoxide as an active ingredient. Mekinist was launched by Novartis in 2013.
Can you believe Mekinist received compensation for the extended wait time during the regulatory approval process?
A supplementary protection certificate (SPC) is a type of intellectual property right granted in the European Union. It provides an extension of the term of protection for a medicinal product that has been authorized for sale in the EU, beyond the 20-year term provided by the basic patent. The aim of SPCs is to compensate for the time taken to get regulatory approval for a new drug, and to provide an incentive for companies to invest in research and development in the field of medicinal products.
Approval Date:
Mekinist was approved by FDA for market use on 29 May, 2013.
NCE-1 date:
NCE-1 date also known as the four year date occurs four years after the original drug approval and marks the first opportunity for a generic manufacturer to file an ANDA with a Paragraph IV certification. This is the earliest point when generic competition might begin, provided the challenge is successful. Since the approval date for Mekinist is 29 May, 2013, its NCE-1 date is estimated to be 22 December, 2024.
Active Ingredient:
Mekinist uses Trametinib Dimethyl Sulfoxide as the active ingredient. Check out other Drugs and Companies using Trametinib Dimethyl Sulfoxide ingredient
Treatment:
Mekinist is used for treating various cancers, including melanoma, anaplastic thyroid cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and low-grade glioma, in combination with dabrafenib.
Dosage:
Mekinist is available in the following dosage forms - tablet form for oral use, solution form for oral use. Given below is detailed information on Dosage -
| Strength | Dosage Form | Availability | Application Pathway |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQ 2MG | TABLET | Prescription | ORAL |
| EQ 1MG **Federal Register determination that product was not discontinued or withdrawn for safety or effectiveness reasons** | TABLET | Discontinued | ORAL |
| EQ 0.5MG | TABLET | Prescription | ORAL |
| EQ 0.05MG BASE/ML | SOLUTION | Prescription | ORAL |