Medicis announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (US PTO) has advised the company that US Patent No. 7,541,347 directed to the use of Solodyn in 90mg tablet form will issue on June 2, 2009, and that US Patent No. 7,544,373 directed to Solodyn in 90mg tablet form will issue on June 9, 2009. The new patents include subject matter covering methods of using the 90mg controlled-release oral dosage form of minocycline to treat acne and the composition of the 90mg dosage form. Both patents will expire in 2027. For the week ending May 8, 2009, the 90mg strength represented over 62 per cent of total Solodyn prescriptions.
"We are pleased to announce two new patents for Solodyn," said Jonah Shacknai, chairman and chief executive officer of Medicis. "We believe Solodyn has unique attributes which distinguish it from other forms of minocycline. These new patents represent another important element in maintaining the Solodyn franchise. We believe these issued patent claims will enhance the intellectual property protection of our Solodyn brand."
Solodyn has another issued patent, US Patent No. 5,908,838, which expires in 2018, related to the use of the Solodyn unique dissolution rate. The company has a number of US patent applications associated with Solodyn on file at the US PTO.
Launched to dermatologists in July 2006 after approval by the US FDA on May 8, 2006, Solodyn is the only branded oral minocycline approved for once daily dosage in the treatment of inflammatory lesions of non-nodular moderate to severe acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older.