Azithromycin Patent Expiration

Azithromycin was first introduced by Pfizer Chemicals Div Pfizer Inc in its drug Zithromax on Nov 1, 1991. Other drugs containing Azithromycin are Zmax, Azithromycin, Azasite. 35 different companies have introduced drugs containing Azithromycin.


Azithromycin Patents

Given below is the list of patents protecting Azithromycin, along with the drug name that holds that patent and the company name owning that drug.

Drug Used in Drug Patent Number Drug Patent Title Drug Patent Expiry Drug Owner
Zmax US6984403 Azithromycin dosage forms with reduced side effects Feb 14, 2024

(Expired)

Pf Prism Cv
Zmax US7887844 Multiparticulate crystalline drug compositions having controlled release profiles Feb 14, 2024

(Expired)

Pf Prism Cv
Azasite US6239113 Topical treatment or prevention of ocular infections Mar 31, 2019

(Expired)

Thea Pharma
Azasite US6569443 Topical treatment or prevention of ocular infections Mar 31, 2019

(Expired)

Thea Pharma
Azasite US7056893 Topical treatment for prevention of ocular infections Mar 31, 2019

(Expired)

Thea Pharma
Azasite US6861411 Method of treating eye infections with azithromycin Nov 25, 2018

(Expired)

Thea Pharma
Zithromax US6268489 Azithromycin dihydrate Jul 31, 2018

(Expired)

Pfizer
Zithromax US6268489 Azithromycin dihydrate Jul 31, 2018

(Expired)

Pfizer
Zithromax US6268489 Azithromycin dihydrate Jul 31, 2018

(Expired)

Pfizer
Zmax US6268489 Azithromycin dihydrate Jul 31, 2018

(Expired)

Pf Prism Cv
Azasite US6159458 Sustained release ophthalmic compositions containing water soluble medicaments Nov 04, 2017

(Expired)

Thea Pharma
Zmax US6068859 Controlled-release dosage forms of Azithromycin May 30, 2017

(Expired)

Pf Prism Cv



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 Azithromycin's patents.

Given below is the list recent legal activities going on the following patents of Azithromycin.

Activity Date Patent Number
Patent litigations
Payment of Maintenance Fee, 12th Year, Large Entity 13 Jul, 2022 US7887844
Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Year, Large Entity 16 Jul, 2018 US7887844
Patent Issue Date Used in PTA Calculation 15 Feb, 2011 US7887844
Recordation of Patent Grant Mailed 15 Feb, 2011 US7887844
Email Notification 27 Jan, 2011 US7887844
Issue Notification Mailed 26 Jan, 2011 US7887844
Dispatch to FDC 10 Jan, 2011 US7887844
Application Is Considered Ready for Issue 07 Jan, 2011 US7887844
Issue Fee Payment Verified 05 Jan, 2011 US7887844
Issue Fee Payment Received 05 Jan, 2011 US7887844


Azithromycin's Family Patents

Family Patents

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Azithromycin Generic API Manufacturers

Several generic applications have been filed for Azithromycin. The first generic version for Azithromycin was by Sandoz Inc and was approved on Nov 14, 2005. And the latest generic version is by Zhejiang Poly Pharm Co Ltd and was approved on Jul 27, 2023.

Given below is the list of companies who have filed for Azithromycin generic, along with the locations of their manufacturing plants worldwide.