Last Updated: September 28, 2026

MOTRIN MIGRAINE PAIN Drug Patent Profile


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When do Motrin Migraine Pain patents expire, and what generic alternatives are available?

Motrin Migraine Pain is a drug marketed by Kenvue Brands and is included in one NDA.

The generic ingredient in MOTRIN MIGRAINE PAIN is ibuprofen. Two hundred and forty-nine suppliers are listed for this compound. Additional details are available on the ibuprofen profile page.

DrugPatentWatch® Litigation and Generic Entry Outlook for Motrin Migraine Pain

A generic version of MOTRIN MIGRAINE PAIN was approved as ibuprofen by CONTRACT PHARMACAL on October 15th, 1986.

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  • What is the 5 year forecast for MOTRIN MIGRAINE PAIN?
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Summary for MOTRIN MIGRAINE PAIN
US Patents:0
Applicants:1
NDAs:1

US Patents and Regulatory Information for MOTRIN MIGRAINE PAIN

Applicant Tradename Generic Name Dosage NDA Approval Date TE Type RLD RS Patent No. Patent Expiration Product Substance Delist Req. Exclusivity Expiration
Kenvue Brands MOTRIN MIGRAINE PAIN ibuprofen TABLET;ORAL 019012-004 Feb 25, 2000 DISCN No No ⤷  Start Trial ⤷  Start Trial ⤷  Start Trial
>Applicant >Tradename >Generic Name >Dosage >NDA >Approval Date >TE >Type >RLD >RS >Patent No. >Patent Expiration >Product >Substance >Delist Req. >Exclusivity Expiration
Last updated: July 8, 2026

Investment Scenario and Fundamentals Analysis for Motrin Migraine Pain (OTC ibuprofen combination)

Executive summary: Motrin Migraine Pain is an OTC ibuprofen-based analgesic marketed for migraine and headache. From an investment standpoint, the trade is less about single-drug patent duration and more about (1) OTC brand value retention, (2) competitive intensity in headache/migraine self-care, and (3) regulatory resilience of an established monograph-category or NDA/ANDA framework (depending on the specific marketed product). For investors, the key fundamentals are stable demand for OTC analgesics, margin sensitivity to ingredient and advertising costs, and low “IP moats” typical of ibuprofen-based products once formulations and labeling are commoditized.

What is Motrin Migraine Pain, and how is it positioned versus other OTC migraine analgesics?

Answer (quick): Motrin Migraine Pain is a consumer OTC migraine/headache pain relief product built on ibuprofen as the analgesic active ingredient, sold for self-treatment of migraine pain and other headache pain.

What active ingredients drive the product economics?

  • Motrin (ibuprofen) is a mature, widely manufactured API with high availability and competitive pricing.
  • Investment impact: API cost is typically a minor margin driver versus brand spend, channel terms, and promotional intensity, but it still matters at scale given commoditized supply.

How does the “migraine” OTC use-case affect market behavior?

  • OTC migraine/headache is an “urgent but discretionary” category: users trade between brands based on perceived speed of relief, tolerability, and price.
  • Investment impact: brand marketing and in-market availability are more decisive than long-cycle R&D.

How big is the OTC headache and migraine market opportunity, and where does ibuprofen fit?

Answer (quick): OTC headache and migraine is a mature, high-volume segment with strong retailer control over shelf allocation and pricing power.

Category demand drivers

  • Broad prevalence of tension-type headache and migraine increases household penetration.
  • Seasonality can be modest relative to respiratory categories but can show spikes around weather shifts and travel patterns.
  • OTC switch behavior is high because consumers can substitute across NSAIDs and analgesic classes.

Competitive substitutability

  • Ibuprofen competes primarily with:
    • other NSAIDs (naproxen, aspirin)
    • acetaminophen-based products
    • combination analgesics (class-dependent on labeling)
  • Investment impact: price elasticity is meaningful. When promotions intensify, volume can hold up while profits compress.

What patents protect Motrin Migraine Pain, and how strong is the patent estate for ibuprofen-based OTC migraine products?

Answer (quick): For a mature active ingredient like ibuprofen, exclusivity and enforceable patent “moats” usually do not cover the underlying analgesic molecule; protection typically focuses on specific formulation, dosage form, or labeling-related components, often with short remaining life or already expired for core actives.

How to think about patent strength in ibuprofen OTC

  • Core molecule patents on ibuprofen have long since expired.
  • For OTC products, any remaining IP typically comes from:
    • formulation patents (tablet coatings, release profile, excipients)
    • process patents (manufacturing)
    • packaging or device-linked claims (less common for ibuprofen tablets)
    • method-of-use claims, if any, tied to specific indication wording (often constrained by regulatory and OTC pathway realities)

Practical investment implication

  • If the product is effectively a standard ibuprofen OTC dosage with mainstream formulation, the enforceable patent estate is usually thin.
  • The competitive “protection” is therefore brand equity and retail placement rather than litigation-grade exclusivity.

When does Motrin Migraine Pain lose exclusivity, and what does that mean for generic entry risk?

Answer (quick): Exclusivity for ibuprofen-based OTC products is generally not a single-date event. Generic entry risk is typically already realized at the active-ingredient level; the remaining risk is substitution by lower-cost equivalents under similar consumer positioning.

How generics affect OTC migraine analgesics

  • Once an OTC ibuprofen product’s route and formulation are not meaningfully protected, retailers can switch shelf strategies toward lower-cost SKUs.
  • Brand owners often respond through:
    • package size architecture
    • line extensions (capsule/gel caplets, liquid gels)
    • promotional intensity
    • retailer co-op advertising

Key risk metric for investors

  • Track private label penetration in NSAID analgesics and whether Motrin’s migraine-specific claim drives sufficient incremental loyalty to defend price.

What is the Orange Book status of Motrin Migraine Pain?

Answer (quick): Motrin Migraine Pain is an OTC product; typical OTC NSAID products may not rely on an Orange Book New Drug Application (NDA) exclusivity structure in the way prescription drugs do. For a complete Orange Book-specific assessment, the exact FDA application listing for the specific product strength and dosage form is required.

What formulations are protected by Motrin Migraine Pain, and what delivery form changes increase IP leverage?

Answer (quick): For ibuprofen OTC products, formulation patents are the only plausible residual IP lever. The most investable “formulation leverage” comes from meaningful differences in onset, release kinetics, or tolerability-enabling design that supports differentiated claims.

Formulation levers that typically matter

  • Immediate-release vs modified-release status
  • Tablet excipient system affecting dissolution
  • Coatings controlling disintegration
  • Gelatin/capsule or caplet shape affecting consumer adherence

Investor signal

  • If the migraine positioning is tied to faster onset or distinct release behavior, formulation-level IP could matter more. If the product is standard immediate-release ibuprofen, formulation protection often narrows to packaging and minor composition claims.

What patent litigation affects Motrin Migraine Pain, and how has it influenced market share?

Answer (quick): For mature ibuprofen OTC products, large-scale branded-versus-generic litigation is usually less central than brand marketing and retailer contract cycles. A complete litigation map requires product-specific patent numbers and venue records.

Litigation pathways that can still matter

  • Teva, Sandoz, generic OTC suppliers typically litigate only when formulation or labeling protections exist.
  • If a branded OTC line holds enforceable formulation patents, generic launch could be delayed via injunction or settlement.

Investment takeaway

  • In this category, litigation risk is typically a low-probability, high-impact event only when specific formulation IP is asserted.

How does Motrin Migraine Pain compare with Excedrin, naproxen OTC brands, and acetaminophen OTC options?

Answer (quick): Ibuprofen-based OTC migraine pain relief competes directly with acetaminophen and mixed/NSAID options. The decisive factor is consumer preference for perceived speed, tolerability, and price during promotions.

Competitive comparison framework investors can use

  • Claims alignment: migraine headache relief language vs general headache
  • Onset positioning: any “fast acting” claim
  • Safety perceptions: stomach sensitivity relative to alternative NSAIDs
  • Retail price tiers: value packs and store brands
  • Evidence of adherence: repeat purchase rates correlate with tolerability and consistent relief

Commercial implication

  • If Motrin Migraine Pain’s incremental brand lift versus generic ibuprofen is thin, margins and volume both become promotional and retailer-led.

What FDA regulatory status and OTC pathway applies to Motrin Migraine Pain?

Answer (quick): The FDA regulatory status of OTC ibuprofen products depends on whether the product is formulated under an OTC drug monograph framework or via an FDA-approved application. OTC NSAIDs like ibuprofen are typically governed by established regulatory frameworks that can limit the uniqueness of claims once labeling and formulation are standardized.

Labeling risk that affects economics

  • OTC labeling language on migraine/headache use is a commercial asset; adverse labeling changes can reduce claim-driven differentiation.
  • Retailers may also adjust shelf placements if labeling or safety communications shift.

What commercial risks and margin drivers matter most for an OTC Motrin Migraine Pain investment?

Answer (quick): For OTC analgesics, margins are driven by trade spending, advertising, retailer slotting/discounting, and stable manufacturing throughput, with limited upside from patent-driven pricing.

Top risk categories investors should model

  • Promotional intensity and retailer pricing actions
  • Ingredient and logistics costs (less IP-driven, more commodity and freight-driven)
  • Brand share volatility from private label and competing brands
  • Regulatory labeling changes affecting claim strength
  • Channel mix shifts (club, mass, grocery, online marketplaces)

Top opportunity categories

  • Line extensions that expand pack architecture and protect shelf share
  • Evidence-supported consumer differentiation in messaging
  • Trade terms improvements (duration, volume rebates, retailer co-op)

What generic entry scenarios exist for Motrin Migraine Pain, and what triggers will lead to substitution?

Answer (quick): Generic entry is usually already present at the ibuprofen level. The “scenario” investors should focus on is not whether generic ibuprofen exists, but whether Motrin Migraine Pain’s differentiation collapses via substitution into cheaper equivalent SKUs.

Generic substitution triggers

  • Reduced brand promotion leading to share loss
  • Retailer private label expansion into migraine-headache claim categories
  • Loss of differentiated packaging or claim clarity
  • Price-to-generic parity narrowing due to competition

Modeling approach

  • Expect price compression with any sustained shift to store brands or competing NSAID SKUs.
  • Maintain a close watch on market share vs average wholesale price (or equivalent shelf price indexes).

How do manufacturing and IP barriers affect supply security and competitive position?

Answer (quick): Ibuprofen supply is generally mature, but branded products still depend on scale manufacturing quality systems, packaging throughput, and consistent compliance. IP barriers are usually not the gating factor for market access for ibuprofen equivalents.

Supply chain considerations

  • Contract manufacturing leverage and yield improvements can protect margins.
  • Regulatory compliance costs are recurring and can rise with plant actions and quality investments.

Investor relevance

  • Supply disruptions can drive temporary price support, but sustained disruption is unusual for mature APIs.

Key Takeaways

  1. Motrin Migraine Pain is an OTC ibuprofen-based analgesic where the investment case is largely commercial and channel-driven, not patent-driven.
  2. Patent “moats” for ibuprofen OTC products are typically narrow; brand equity and retailer placement are the main defensible assets.
  3. Generic substitution risk is mostly a function of price promotions, private label expansion, and differentiation in labeling and formulation rather than a single exclusivity expiration.
  4. Fundamentals to underwrite are promotional intensity, trade terms, market share stability, and margin sensitivity to pricing pressure.

FAQs

  1. How does OTC NSAID price competition usually impact Motrin-branded migraine analgesics versus store brands?
  2. What retail and online channel dynamics most influence OTC headache brand share for ibuprofen products?
  3. What formulation changes (release profile, coatings, excipients) most often create defensible OTC differentiation for NSAID tablets?
  4. How do OTC labeling claim changes for migraine/headache affect consumer preference and retailer shelf positioning?
  5. What indicators signal that branded OTC NSAID demand is shifting toward private label?

References

  1. FDA. Orange Book: Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/
  2. FDA. OTC Drug Products. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/over-counter-drugs

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