Clearing Dense Drug-Patent Thickets

Two proposed patent reforms, the USPTO terminal disclaimer rule and a bipartisan bill to address patent thickets, could significantly reduce patent thickets on biologic and small molecule products. For two products, adalimumab (Humira), and lenalidomide (Revlimid), the USPTO rule would reduce each product’s thicket by 43% and 70%, respectively, while the legislationw would making only 25 of 105 Humira patents and 12 of 30 Revlimid patents enforceable.