A 'Method of Use' to Prevent Generic and Biosimilar Market Entry

Brand drug manufacturers use large numbers of patents directed towards the same products creating "patent thickets" to delay or deter generic drug entry. In this Perspective, Dr. Tu and Dr. Sarpatwari show that over the past two decades drug companies have been increasing the intensity of patenting. Additionally, the authors show that many of these patent thickets are comprised of less innovated "method of use" patents. This article was published in the New England Journal of Medicine at https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2216020