To promote dissemination and access of vital information that may help solve the current health crisis, the Philippine Intellectual Property Office (“IPOPHL”) published several Philippine patent information reports that may be relevant to R&D activities relating to COVID-19. The reports are accessible for free.
Highlights of the reports are provided below. They may also be accessed by clicking on their titles.
DEXAMETHASONE (as of 21 July 2021)
- There are no active Philippine patents covering dexamethasone per se and its process of synthesis.
- There are active Philippine patents relating to new medical indications or uses of dexamethasone alone or in combination with other active ingredients, including the treatment of middle ear infection, otic disorders, neurological adverse events, and diabetic macular edema.
- There are also pending patent applications which cover the combination of dexamethasone and other active ingredients for use in treating inflammation disorders, autoimmune disease, and cancer.
- The IPOPHL, however, has not received patent applications covering the use of dexamethasone for the treatment of COVID-19.
IVERMECTIN (as of 30 July 2021)
- There are no active Philippine patents covering ivermectin per se and its process of synthesis.
- While there is an active patent claiming a premix for an animal feed comprising at least one avermectin or milbemycin selected from the group consisting of ivermectin and other compounds, there are no active patents that cover formulations comprising ivermectin as the sole active ingredient intended for humans.
- The IPOPHL has not received patent applications covering the use of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19.
MOLNUPIRAVIR (as of 06 August 2021)
- There are no Philippine patent applications covering processes for the manufacture of molnupiravir as well as combinations of molnupiravir and other active ingredients.
- There is a pending patent application claiming a formulation comprising molnupiravir and its use in the treatment of viral infections such as SARS and MERS.
- The IPOPHL has not received patent applications covering the use of molnupiravir for the treatment of COVID-19.
RITONAVIR (as of 13 August 2021)
- Abbvie Inc. owned the ritonavir patents, which covered the ritonavir molecule, its pharmaceutical compositions, methods of preparation, and medical uses in the treatment of HIV and HCV infections. In April 2020, Abbvie Inc. filed a request for cancellation of its granted patents and a request for voluntary withdrawal for a patent application covering the ritonavir compound, as it decided to dedicate the ritonavir patents and application for public use including indicated use in HIV treatment and experimental use in COVID-19 treatment.
- The IPOPHL has not received patent applications covering the use of ritonavir for the treatment of COVID-19.
- The combination of lopinavir and ritonavir is a subject of a separate Patent Search Information Report.
LOPINAVIR (as of 23 August 2021)
- Abbvie Inc. owned the lopinavir patents, which covered the lopinavir molecule, its pharmaceutical compositions, methods of preparation, and medical uses in the treatment of HIV and HCV infections. In April 2020, Abbvie Inc. filed a request for cancellation of its granted patents as it decided to dedicate the lopinavir patents for public use including indicated use in HIV treatment and experimental use in COVID-19 treatment.
- The IPOPHL has not received patent applications covering the use of lopinavir for the treatment of COVID-19.
- The combination of lopinavir and ritonavir is a subject of a separate Patent Search Information Report.
LOPINAVIR + RITONAVIR (LPV/r) (as of 26 August 2021)
- There are no active patents relating to the combination of lopinavir and ritonavir, as previous patents were either expired or lapsed or voluntarily cancelled in April 2020 by its owner, Abbvie Inc., as it decided to dedicate said patents for public use including indicated use in HIV treatment and experimental use in COVID-19 treatment.
- The IPOPHL has not received patent applications covering the use of lopinavir and ritonavir for the treatment of COVID-19.
FAVIPIRAVIR (as of 03 September 2021)
- There are granted Philippine patents which cover favipiravir compounds, specifically, its amorphous meglumine salt, crystalline meglumine salt, and crystal sodium salt.
- There are also granted Philippine patents covering injectable and lyophilized preparations comprising the meglumine and sodium salts of favipiravir, as well as methods of preparing the crystalline meglumine salt and crystal sodium of favipiravir.
- The IPOPHL, however, has not received patent applications covering the use of favipiravir for the treatment of COVID-19.
METHYLPREDNISOLONE (as of 10 September 2021)
- There are no active Philippine patents covering methylprednisolone or its process of manufacture or synthesis, as well as formulations containing methylprednisolone as the lone active ingredient. There are also no active Philippine patents covering combination drugs comprising methylprednisolone and other active ingredients.
- There is an active patent, which will expire on 11 November 2030, relating to the use of anti-inflammatory corticosteroid selected from methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, dexamethasone ester or prednisolone for the manufacture of a medicament for treating Meniere’s disease.
- The IPOPHL has not received patent applications covering the use of methylprednisolone for the treatment of COVID-19.
MELATONIN (as of 16 September 2021)
- There are no active Philippine patents on the melatonin molecule, nor on the process of its manufacture or synthesis. Melatonin per se is a naturally occurring hormone and is not eligible for an invention patent. There are likewise no patents covering formulations containing melatonin as the lone active ingredient.
- The IPOPHL has not received patent applications covering the use of melatonin for the treatment of COVID-19.
LAGUNDI (as of 27 September 2021)
- Lagundi as a plant variety is not eligible for patent registration (R.A. No. 8293, Section 22.4).
- There are no Philippine patents or patent applications covering products comprising lagundi extracts or products covering the phytochemical components in lagundi, as well as processes of obtaining said extracts or phytochemical components.
- There are a number of utility model registrations covering products comprising lagundi extract and the processes of preparing said products.
- There are no patent or utility model registrations or applications covering the medical use of lagundi or its extracts or phytochemical components.
- The IPOPHL has not received patent applications covering the use of lagundi extract or its phytochemical components for the treatment of COVID-19.