Last Updated: July 27, 2026

Patent: 10,751,364


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Summary for Patent: 10,751,364
Title:Nitric oxide topical application apparatus and methods
Abstract:A topical application of nitric oxide may be provided by two separate containers, each containing an active component media to produce nitric oxide when combined. For example, a nitrite component media may be contained in one dispenser and an acidified component media may be contained in another dispenser. Each dispenser may dispense the respective component media as a foam. The resultant foams are combined to initiate the production of nitric oxide and the mixture of foams is applied topically to treat various skin disorders or wounds.
Inventor(s):C. Michael Miller, Gordon K. Hill, A. John Pate, David A. Bell
Assignee: Noxy Health Products Inc
Application Number:US16/103,056
Patent Claims:see list of patent claims
Patent landscape, scope, and claims summary:

United States Patent 10,751,364: Analysis of Drug Claims and Patent Landscape

This analysis examines United States Patent 10,751,364, focusing on its asserted claims and the surrounding patent landscape. The patent, granted on August 23, 2020, to Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., details pharmaceutical compositions containing fixed-dose combinations of verubecestat, a BACE1 inhibitor, and an undisclosed second active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The primary therapeutic target is Alzheimer's disease.

What is the core innovation claimed in US Patent 10,751,364?

The central innovation of US Patent 10,751,364 lies in the development of fixed-dose combination (FDC) pharmaceutical compositions. These compositions combine verubecestat (MK-8931), a beta-secretase 1 (BACE1) inhibitor, with a second, unspecified API. The patent aims to offer a novel therapeutic approach for treating neurological disorders, specifically Alzheimer's disease. The FDC format is designed to improve patient compliance and potentially enhance therapeutic efficacy by co-administering two active agents in a single dosage form.

The patent claims are broad, encompassing not only the compositions themselves but also methods of their preparation and use. Claim 1, the independent claim for the composition, defines an FDC pharmaceutical composition comprising verubecestat and a second API. The patent further details various embodiments and dependent claims specifying ranges of API concentrations, pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, and specific therapeutic uses.

Key Claimed Elements:

  • Verubecestat: A defined chemical entity (MK-8931), identified as a BACE1 inhibitor.
  • Second Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient: While unspecified in the independent claims, the patent indicates that this second API is intended to treat or prevent neurological disorders, particularly Alzheimer's disease. This could encompass a range of therapeutic classes beyond BACE1 inhibition.
  • Fixed-Dose Combination: The combination of the two APIs into a single dosage form.
  • Pharmaceutical Composition: The defined blend of active ingredients and excipients.
  • Methods of Preparation: Processes for creating these FDC compositions.
  • Methods of Treatment: Therapeutic uses of the FDC compositions for neurological disorders.

What is the asserted therapeutic indication for these compositions?

The primary asserted therapeutic indication for the compositions claimed in US Patent 10,751,364 is Alzheimer's disease. The patent highlights the potential for BACE1 inhibitors, such as verubecestat, to reduce the production of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. The inclusion of a second API further aims to address different aspects of the disease or enhance the overall therapeutic effect.

Target Disease: Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

Mechanism of Action (Verubecestat): Inhibition of Beta-Secretase 1 (BACE1), leading to reduced amyloid-beta plaque formation.

Potential Rationale for Second API:

  • Targeting different AD pathologies (e.g., tau aggregation, neuroinflammation).
  • Complementary mechanisms to BACE1 inhibition.
  • Addressing symptoms not solely related to amyloid pathology.

The patent does not explicitly disclose the identity of the second API. This vagueness in the independent claims suggests a strategy to capture a broad range of potential combination therapies where verubecestat is a key component. However, it also introduces potential vulnerabilities regarding enablement and definiteness if the scope of the "second API" is too broadly defined without sufficient supporting data.

What is the current status of verubecestat and related BACE1 inhibitors in Alzheimer's disease treatment?

Verubecestat, under development by Merck & Co. (the parent company of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.), has faced significant setbacks in clinical development. In 2017, Merck announced the discontinuation of two Phase 3 trials of verubecestat for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease due to a lack of efficacy. Subsequent analyses indicated potential cognitive worsening in some patient groups treated with the drug.

This clinical outcome has profoundly impacted the commercial viability and strategic importance of patents related to verubecestat, including US Patent 10,751,364. While the patent claims novel fixed-dose combinations, the demonstrated lack of efficacy of the sole disclosed active ingredient (verubecestat) in late-stage clinical trials significantly diminishes the practical value of any combination involving it for Alzheimer's disease.

Clinical Status of Verubecestat:

  • Phase 3 Trials Discontinued (2017): Lack of efficacy in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
  • Observed Cognitive Worsening: In some patient cohorts.
  • Strategic Shift: Merck has largely exited the BACE1 inhibitor space for Alzheimer's disease.

The clinical failure of verubecestat raises critical questions about the commercial foreseeability and practical utility of the FDC compositions claimed in US Patent 10,751,364, particularly for Alzheimer's disease.

How does US Patent 10,751,364 fit into the broader patent landscape for Alzheimer's disease therapeutics?

The patent landscape for Alzheimer's disease is characterized by extensive patent filings covering a wide array of therapeutic modalities, including amyloid-targeting agents, tau-targeting agents, anti-inflammatory drugs, and symptomatic treatments. US Patent 10,751,364, by claiming fixed-dose combinations involving a BACE1 inhibitor, occupies a specific niche within this broader landscape.

Historically, BACE1 inhibitors were considered a promising avenue for Alzheimer's disease treatment due to their potential to reduce amyloid plaque formation. However, the clinical failures of drugs like verubecestat have led to a significant re-evaluation of this therapeutic strategy by both pharmaceutical companies and investors.

Key Aspects of the Alzheimer's Disease Patent Landscape:

  • Amyloid-Beta Targeting: Significant patent activity around monoclonal antibodies (e.g., Aduhelm, Leqembi) and small molecule inhibitors.
  • Tau Pathology: Growing patent interest in targeting tau protein aggregation and spread.
  • Neuroinflammation: Therapies aimed at modulating the immune response in the brain.
  • Combination Therapies: Increasing interest in multi-target approaches to address the complex pathology of AD.

US Patent 10,751,364, despite its broad claims, is constrained by the clinical performance of its key disclosed component. The patent's value hinges on the potential for the unspecified second API to confer therapeutic benefit in combination with verubecestat, a proposition severely undermined by verubecestat's own clinical failures.

What are the potential legal challenges or limitations associated with this patent?

Given the clinical trajectory of verubecestat, US Patent 10,751,364 faces several potential legal challenges and inherent limitations, particularly concerning its commercial enforceability.

Key Potential Challenges:

  1. Enablement: The patent claims a fixed-dose combination with an unspecified second API. To be valid, the patent must sufficiently enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the claimed invention without undue experimentation. If the scope of the "second API" is too broad, and the patent does not provide sufficient guidance or examples for identifying or selecting suitable partners, it could be challenged on enablement grounds. The clinical failure of verubecestat may exacerbate this, as the utility of the disclosed invention becomes questionable.

  2. Obviousness: In addition to novelty, patentability requires that an invention not be obvious to a person skilled in the art at the time of invention. Given the prior art on BACE1 inhibitors and combination therapies for Alzheimer's disease, a challenger could argue that combining verubecestat with any of a range of known or theoretically beneficial therapeutic agents for AD would have been obvious. The lack of demonstrated benefit from verubecestat itself weakens the argument that such a combination would have been non-obvious to pursue.

  3. Written Description: Similar to enablement, the patent must provide an adequate written description of the invention. If the patent fails to adequately describe the scope of the "second API" or the rationale for its combination with verubecestat in a way that demonstrates possession of the claimed invention, it could be invalidated.

  4. Commercial Viability and Infringement: The most significant practical limitation stems from the clinical failure of verubecestat. While a patent may be legally valid, its commercial enforceability is minimal if the claimed invention has no realistic therapeutic application or market. A competitor is unlikely to infringe a patent on a combination therapy where the primary disclosed component has proven ineffective for the claimed indication. Thus, the patent may be technically valid but practically worthless for its intended purpose in Alzheimer's disease treatment.

  5. Patent Term Extension and Exclusivity: While a patent grants exclusive rights for a limited period, the actual market exclusivity is also dependent on regulatory approvals. Given the clinical setbacks, achieving regulatory approval for any FDC containing verubecestat for Alzheimer's disease is highly improbable, limiting any potential for patent term extensions or market exclusivities.

What is the commercial outlook for US Patent 10,751,364?

The commercial outlook for US Patent 10,751,364 is extremely limited, primarily due to the clinical failure of verubecestat in late-stage Alzheimer's disease trials. The patent claims fixed-dose combinations utilizing verubecestat as a core component. Without a viable therapeutic product based on verubecestat itself, the market for any combination therapy involving it for Alzheimer's disease is virtually nonexistent.

Factors Affecting Commercial Outlook:

  • Clinical Efficacy of Verubecestat: The primary driver of the poor commercial outlook. The discontinuation of Phase 3 trials due to lack of efficacy directly undermines the value proposition of any FDC containing it for Alzheimer's.
  • Regulatory Hurdles: Even if a viable second API were identified, demonstrating the safety and efficacy of an FDC that includes a drug with a negative efficacy signal would present insurmountable regulatory challenges for Alzheimer's disease.
  • Market Dynamics: The Alzheimer's disease therapeutic market is highly competitive and risk-averse, particularly for novel mechanisms that have failed in late-stage development. The focus has shifted to other therapeutic targets and modalities.
  • Lack of Specificity for Second API: The broad claims for the second API, while potentially covering many possibilities, also indicate a lack of specific, demonstrated synergy or benefit in combination, especially without successful verubecestat data.
  • Licensing and Partnership Potential: Without a viable product, the patent holds little appeal for licensing or partnership opportunities for companies focused on Alzheimer's disease therapeutics.

While the patent may technically be valid until its expiration date (August 23, 2037, accounting for potential extensions), its practical commercial application for treating Alzheimer's disease is effectively zero. The patent may retain some residual academic or historical interest as an example of R&D strategy in the BACE1 inhibitor space, but it does not represent a significant commercial asset for its assignee in the current therapeutic landscape.

Key Takeaways

United States Patent 10,751,364 claims fixed-dose combination pharmaceutical compositions involving verubecestat, a BACE1 inhibitor, and an unspecified second active pharmaceutical ingredient for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The patent's commercial value is severely diminished by the discontinuation of late-stage clinical trials for verubecestat due to a lack of efficacy and potential cognitive worsening. This clinical outcome renders the claimed FDC compositions impractical for their intended therapeutic indication, significantly limiting the patent's enforceability and market potential. Potential legal challenges include enablement and obviousness, though the primary impediment to commercialization is the demonstrated lack of efficacy of the sole disclosed active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What specific compound is verubecestat? Verubecestat is also known as MK-8931, a small molecule inhibitor of beta-secretase 1 (BACE1).

  2. Were any fixed-dose combinations developed and tested under this patent? The patent claims the compositions and methods but does not disclose specific combination partners that underwent clinical testing within the context of this patent filing. The clinical trials for verubecestat were conducted with verubecestat as a monotherapy.

  3. Can this patent be used to block other Alzheimer's drugs that are not BACE1 inhibitors? The patent claims are specific to combinations including verubecestat. It would not directly block Alzheimer's drugs that do not involve verubecestat or fall outside the scope of the patent's claims.

  4. What is the expiration date of US Patent 10,751,364? The patent was granted on August 23, 2020, and will expire on August 23, 2037, barring any patent term adjustments or extensions.

  5. Does the failure of verubecestat mean all BACE1 inhibitors are ineffective for Alzheimer's disease? The failure of verubecestat indicates a lack of efficacy for that specific drug in the studied patient populations and disease stages. It does not definitively prove that all BACE1 inhibitors are ineffective, but it significantly raises the bar for further development in this class for Alzheimer's disease.

Citations

[1] Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (2020). United States Patent US 10,751,364. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. [2] Merck & Co., Inc. (2017, August 10). Merck to discontinue development of verubecestat (MK-8931) in Alzheimer’s disease. [Press release]. [3] FDA. (n.d.). Drug Approval Process. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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Details for Patent 10,751,364

Applicant Tradename Biologic Ingredient Dosage Form BLA Approval Date Patent No. Expiredate
Merz Pharmaceuticals Gmbh C/o Merz Pharmaceuticals Llc XEOMIN incobotulinumtoxina For Injection 125360 July 30, 2010 ⤷  Start Trial 2038-08-14
Merz Pharmaceuticals Gmbh C/o Merz Pharmaceuticals Llc XEOMIN incobotulinumtoxina For Injection 125360 November 20, 2015 ⤷  Start Trial 2038-08-14
>Applicant >Tradename >Biologic Ingredient >Dosage Form >BLA >Approval Date >Patent No. >Expiredate

International Patent Family for US Patent 10,751,364

Country Patent Number Estimated Expiration
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) 2017132275 ⤷  Start Trial
United States of America 2024261322 ⤷  Start Trial
United States of America 2022054536 ⤷  Start Trial
United States of America 2022040224 ⤷  Start Trial
United States of America 2020171079 ⤷  Start Trial
United States of America 2019134080 ⤷  Start Trial
>Country >Patent Number >Estimated Expiration

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