XACDURO (COPACKAGED) Drug Patent Profile

« Back to Dashboard

Which patents cover Xacduro (copackaged), and what generic alternatives are available?

Xacduro (copackaged) is a drug marketed by Entasis Therap and is included in one NDA. There are four patents protecting this drug.

The generic ingredient in XACDURO (COPACKAGED) is durlobactam sodium; durlobactam sodium; sulbactam sodium. There is one drug master file entry for this compound. One supplier is listed for this compound. Additional details are available on the durlobactam sodium; durlobactam sodium; sulbactam sodium profile page.

DrugPatentWatch^® Generic Entry Outlook for Xacduro (copackaged)

Xacduro (copackaged) will be eligible for patent challenges on May 23, 2027. This date may extended up to six months if a pediatric exclusivity extension is applied to the drug's patents.

By analyzing the patents and regulatory protections it appears that the earliest date for generic entry will be May 23, 2033. This may change due to patent challenges or generic licensing.

There have been two patent litigation cases involving the patents protecting this drug, indicating strong interest in generic launch. Recent data indicate that 63% of patent challenges are decided in favor of the generic patent challenger and that 54% of successful patent challengers promptly launch generic drugs.

Indicators of Generic Entry

Summary for XACDURO (COPACKAGED)

US Patents:	4
Applicants:	1
NDAs:	1
Finished Product Suppliers / Packagers:	1
Patent Litigation and PTAB cases:	See patent lawsuits and PTAB cases for XACDURO (COPACKAGED)
DailyMed Link:	XACDURO (COPACKAGED) at DailyMed

DrugPatentWatch^® Estimated Loss of Exclusivity (LOE) Date for XACDURO (COPACKAGED)

Constraining patent/regulatory exclusivity:

GENERATING ANTIBIOTIC INCENTIVES NOW

NDA:

216974

Dosage:

POWDER;INTRAVENOUS

^*The generic entry opportunity date is the latter of the last compound-claiming patent and the last regulatory exclusivity protection. Many factors can influence early or later generic entry. This date is provided as a rough estimate of generic entry potential and should not be used as an independent source.

US Patents and Regulatory Information for XACDURO (COPACKAGED)

XACDURO (COPACKAGED) is protected by four US patents and two FDA Regulatory Exclusivities.

This potential generic entry date is based on GENERATING ANTIBIOTIC INCENTIVES NOW.

Generics may enter earlier, or later, based on new patent filings, patent extensions, patent invalidation, early generic licensing, generic entry preferences, and other factors.

Applicant	Tradename	Generic Name	Dosage	NDA	Approval Date	TE	Type	RLD	RS	Patent No.	Patent Expiration	Product	Substance	Delist Req.	Exclusivity Expiration
Entasis Therap	XACDURO (COPACKAGED)	durlobactam sodium; durlobactam sodium; sulbactam sodium	POWDER;INTRAVENOUS	216974-001	May 23, 2023		RX	Yes	Yes	10,376,499		Y
Entasis Therap	XACDURO (COPACKAGED)	durlobactam sodium; durlobactam sodium; sulbactam sodium	POWDER;INTRAVENOUS	216974-001	May 23, 2023		RX	Yes	Yes	9,309,245			Y
Entasis Therap	XACDURO (COPACKAGED)	durlobactam sodium; durlobactam sodium; sulbactam sodium	POWDER;INTRAVENOUS	216974-001	May 23, 2023		RX	Yes	Yes	9,968,593		Y
Entasis Therap	XACDURO (COPACKAGED)	durlobactam sodium; durlobactam sodium; sulbactam sodium	POWDER;INTRAVENOUS	216974-001	May 23, 2023		RX	Yes	Yes	9,623,014
Entasis Therap	XACDURO (COPACKAGED)	durlobactam sodium; durlobactam sodium; sulbactam sodium	POWDER;INTRAVENOUS	216974-001	May 23, 2023		RX	Yes	Yes

International Patents for XACDURO (COPACKAGED)

When does loss-of-exclusivity occur for XACDURO (COPACKAGED)?

Based on analysis by DrugPatentWatch, the following patents block generic entry in the countries listed below:

Argentina

Australia

Brazil

Canada

Chile

China

Colombia

Costa Rica

Croatia

Cyprus

Denmark

Dominican Republic

European Patent Office

Hong Kong

Hungary

India

Israel

Japan

Lithuania

Malaysia

Mexico

Montenegro

Morocco

New Zealand

Norway

Peru

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

Russian Federation

San Marino

Serbia

Singapore

Slovenia

South Korea

Spain

Taiwan

Tunisia

Uruguay

Generics may enter earlier, or later, based on new patent filings, patent extensions, patent invalidation, early generic licensing, generic entry preferences, and other factors.

See the table below for additional patents covering XACDURO (COPACKAGED) around the world.

Country	Patent Number	Title	Estimated Expiration
Australia	2015350128
Brazil	112017010132
Canada	2966632
China	107108624
Cyprus	1121384

XACDURO (Sulbactam/Durlobactam) Market Dynamics and Financial Trajectory

Last updated: October 30, 2026

XACDURO, the copackaged sulbactam/durlobactam product marketed by Innoviva subsidiary Entasis Therapeutics, has a narrow but strategically important position in hospital anti-infectives. FDA approval in May 2023 created the first targeted beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor regimen specifically indicated for hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia caused by susceptible Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex.

Commercial uptake has been gradual. XACDURO faces a restricted treatment population, hospital stewardship controls, microbiology-driven prescribing, and competition from colistin, cefiderocol, tigecycline, minocycline, and other salvage regimens. Its revenue trajectory depends less on broad prescription volume than on formulary penetration, rapid susceptibility testing, payer coverage, and evidence that the product improves outcomes and reduces nephrotoxicity relative with older therapies.

What is XACDURO and what FDA indication does it have?

XACDURO is a fixed copackaged product containing two separate intravenous drugs:

Product component	Function
Sulbactam	Beta-lactam antibacterial with intrinsic activity against A. baumannii
Durlobactam	Beta-lactamase inhibitor that protects sulbactam from class A, C and D beta-lactamases

FDA approved XACDURO on May 23, 2023, for adults with hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia caused by susceptible Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex.[1]

The recommended adult dose is 1 gram of sulbactam plus 1 gram of durlobactam administered intravenously every six hours, with each dose infused over three hours. Treatment generally lasts seven to 14 days, subject to clinical response and renal function.[1]

XACDURO is not broadly indicated for all multidrug-resistant gram-negative infections. Its commercial opportunity is concentrated in severe hospital infections in which A. baumannii is confirmed or strongly suspected and the isolate is susceptible.

How large is the XACDURO addressable market?

The addressable market is clinically significant but commercially narrow.

Epidemiology and treatment setting

Carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii is concentrated in intensive-care units, long-term acute-care hospitals, military or trauma settings, and regions with high antimicrobial resistance. The product is most relevant for:

• ventilated patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia;
• patients with severe hospital-acquired pneumonia and limited antibiotic options;
• infections caused by carbapenem-resistant or multidrug-resistant isolates;
• institutions with established antimicrobial-resistance programs.

The number of eligible patients is much smaller than the total hospital pneumonia population. Diagnosis also requires culture and susceptibility data, which can limit empiric use.

Competitive alternatives

XACDURO competes against several therapies, but most are not direct substitutes in every clinical situation.

Therapy	Commercial position	Main limitation
XACDURO	Targeted treatment for susceptible A. baumannii HAP/VABP	Narrow label and high acquisition cost
Colistin/polymyxin B	Established salvage therapy	Nephrotoxicity and difficult dosing
Cefiderocol	Broad activity against resistant gram-negative organisms	Resistance concerns, hospital restrictions and competing use cases
High-dose ampicillin/sulbactam	Existing sulbactam-based option	Reduced reliability against resistant isolates
Tigecycline or high-dose minocycline	Used in selected cases	Pharmacokinetic and tolerability limitations
Combination salvage regimens	Used for resistant infections	Variable evidence and toxicity burden

The principal commercial argument for XACDURO is not convenience. It is a more targeted and potentially safer approach than polymyxin-based treatment, supported by the ATTACK trial and FDA labeling.[1][2]

What is the financial trajectory for XACDURO?

XACDURO started from a low commercial base and has shown an early launch-stage ramp rather than immediate blockbuster performance.

Innoviva’s public reporting indicates that XACDURO product sales were approximately $5 million in 2023, its first partial commercial year, and increased to approximately $20 million to $25 million in 2024 on a rounded basis.[3][4] The product remains small relative to Innoviva’s royalty portfolio, which includes respiratory products such as Trelegy Ellipta and Anoro Ellipta.

Period	Commercial status	Approximate XACDURO product revenue
2022	Pre-launch; Innoviva completed Entasis acquisition	$0
2023	US launch after May approval	Approximately $5 million
2024	Broader hospital adoption and formulary expansion	Approximately $20 million-$25 million
2025 onward	Dependent on penetration, international approvals and resistance trends	Not publicly fixed

The trajectory indicates increasing adoption, but it does not yet establish a large-product growth profile. The key financial question is whether XACDURO can move from restricted rescue use into earlier targeted therapy for documented carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii infections.

Revenue drivers

The main revenue drivers are:

1. Hospital formulary inclusion.
2. Availability of rapid diagnostic testing.
3. Growth in carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii infections.
4. Comparative safety versus colistin-based regimens.
5. International regulatory approvals.
6. Distributor and wholesaler stocking requirements.
7. Institutional reimbursement and antimicrobial stewardship policies.

Revenue is likely to be concentrated in a small number of large hospitals and integrated health systems. That creates a sales model with high account value but slow contracting cycles.

Revenue constraints

XACDURO has several constraints:

• low incidence relative to common hospital infections;
• restricted use by infectious-disease specialists;
• delayed treatment initiation while cultures are processed;
• generic and low-cost alternatives;
• institutional pressure to reserve new antibiotics;
• uncertainty about reimbursement for high-cost inpatient therapy;
• competition from broad-spectrum agents used before organism confirmation.

The product is therefore more likely to develop as a specialty hospital anti-infective than as a mass-market antibiotic.

What FDA exclusivity protects XACDURO?

XACDURO received regulatory advantages associated with its infectious-disease designation.

Qualified Infectious Disease Product exclusivity

XACDURO received Qualified Infectious Disease Product treatment under the Generating Antibiotic Incentives Now framework. QIDP status can add five years to applicable FDA exclusivity periods.[5]

The approval date was May 23, 2023. If XACDURO received five-year new chemical entity exclusivity together with the QIDP extension, the resulting regulatory exclusivity could extend to approximately May 2033, subject to the product’s statutory classification and FDA records.

The exclusivity period does not prevent all competition. It primarily restricts certain abbreviated applications and FDA approvals. Patent rights may extend beyond or fall short of regulatory exclusivity.

New chemical entity considerations

Durlobactam was the novel active component in the combination. XACDURO’s exclusivity analysis depends on how FDA treated the active ingredient and combination for statutory purposes. The most important commercial date is the first date on which FDA could approve a therapeutically equivalent generic or other competing application, not merely the expiration of one patent.

What patents protect XACDURO?

XACDURO protection is expected to include multiple patent categories:

• durlobactam composition-of-matter rights;
• sulbactam/durlobactam combination claims;
• pharmaceutical compositions;
• dosing and treatment methods;
• treatment of resistant A. baumannii infections;
• manufacturing and formulation claims.

The core commercial protection is likely the durlobactam and combination patent estate, while method-of-use patents may provide narrower protection against labeled treatment of specified infections.

Patent life may extend into the late 2030s for certain issued patents, depending on patent term adjustment, patent-term extension, terminal disclaimers and the specific Orange Book listings. Exact expiration analysis must distinguish the earliest generic-approval date from the latest enforceable patent date.

Orange Book status

The FDA Orange Book is the controlling source for listed patents and expiration information for an approved small-molecule drug.[6] XACDURO is not a biologic, so the relevant competitive pathway is an ANDA under section 505(j), not a biosimilar application under the Public Health Service Act.

A generic applicant would need to address listed patents through:

• Paragraph I certification;
• Paragraph II certification;
• Paragraph III certification; or
• Paragraph IV certification alleging that a listed patent is invalid, unenforceable or not infringed.

When does XACDURO lose exclusivity?

The principal regulatory exclusivity window could run to approximately May 2033 if the five-year QIDP extension applies to five-year NCE exclusivity.

Patent-based competition could occur later or earlier depending on:

• the earliest listed patent expiration;
• patent-term adjustment;
• patent-term extension;
• pediatric exclusivity;
• an authorized generic;
• a successful Paragraph IV challenge;
• settlement terms between Innoviva and a generic applicant.

A generic company could submit an ANDA before expiration of regulatory exclusivity, but FDA approval and commercial launch would remain constrained by the applicable exclusivity and patent barriers.

Have generic companies filed Paragraph IV challenges to XACDURO?

No material public Paragraph IV challenge or XACDURO generic litigation was identified in the cited FDA and Innoviva materials through the 2024 reporting period.[3][4][6]

The absence of a public challenge is commercially relevant. XACDURO has a small current revenue base, a narrow indication and a complex hospital sales channel. Those factors reduce the immediate incentive for generic manufacturers to incur litigation costs.

A Paragraph IV challenge becomes more plausible if annual product revenue grows materially, particularly if the product becomes standard targeted therapy for carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii.

Is XACDURO exposed to biosimilar competition?

No. XACDURO is a small-molecule antibacterial product, not a biologic. Biosimilar competition under section 351(k) does not apply.

The relevant long-term risk is generic substitution through an ANDA, along with therapeutic substitution by other antibiotics. The latter risk is more immediate because hospitals can change treatment protocols without waiting for a legally substitutable generic product.

What litigation and settlement risks affect XACDURO?

Through the cited period, no major publicly disclosed US patent litigation involving XACDURO was identified.

Potential litigation would likely involve:

• validity of durlobactam composition patents;
• obviousness of the sulbactam/durlobactam combination;
• infringement of treatment-method claims;
• written-description and enablement challenges;
• patent-term calculations;
• whether an ANDA product has the same active ingredients and dosage regimen.

A settlement could permit an earlier generic launch in exchange for a license date, restrictions on authorized-generic competition, or other commercial terms. No material XACDURO settlement was identified in the cited sources.

How strong is the XACDURO patent estate?

The estate has potentially strong commercial protection if the durlobactam composition claims remain enforceable. Composition-of-matter patents generally provide broader protection than treatment-method claims because they can block manufacture and sale of the active ingredient across multiple uses.

Patent strength is reduced by four factors:

1. The product contains a known beta-lactam component.
2. Combination-obviousness arguments may focus on the predictable use of a beta-lactamase inhibitor with sulbactam.
3. The target market is narrow, which may reduce litigation value.
4. Generic manufacturers can challenge patent claims before the product reaches peak revenue.

The regulatory exclusivity period may be more valuable than marginal method-of-use patents if XACDURO remains a sub-$100 million product.

What licensing deals and ownership changes affect XACDURO?

Innoviva acquired Entasis Therapeutics in 2022 in a transaction valued at approximately $225 million, bringing XACDURO into Innoviva’s portfolio before FDA approval.[7]

The acquisition gave Innoviva control over commercialization and development economics. It also placed XACDURO alongside Innoviva’s royalty-based respiratory business, reducing dependence on immediate XACDURO profitability.

The principal ownership risk is execution rather than a major disclosed royalty burden. Innoviva must fund hospital commercialization, medical affairs, post-approval obligations and international expansion while the product builds a specialty-market position.

How does XACDURO compare with cefiderocol and colistin?

Factor	XACDURO	Cefiderocol	Colistin
Primary role	Targeted A. baumannii therapy	Broad resistant gram-negative coverage	Salvage therapy
Administration	IV every six hours, three-hour infusion	IV dosing based on renal function	Complex dosing
Main advantage	Targeted activity and improved alternative to polymyxins	Broad pathogen coverage	Low-cost, established availability
Main commercial risk	Narrow organism and indication	Resistance and outcome concerns	Toxicity
Generic threat	Regulatory and patent-dependent	Patent and regulatory-dependent	Generic competition already exists
Hospital positioning	Stewardship-restricted specialty antibiotic	Specialty anti-infective	Reserve or salvage option

XACDURO’s clearest competitive advantage is against polymyxins in susceptible A. baumannii infections. Its position is less secure where clinicians choose cefiderocol or high-dose sulbactam-based therapy based on local susceptibility patterns.

What generic launch scenarios exist?

Early challenge scenario

A generic applicant files a Paragraph IV certification, Innoviva sues within the statutory window, and FDA approval is stayed for up to 30 months unless the litigation resolves earlier. A successful challenge could accelerate entry before the last expected patent expiration.

Settlement scenario

Innoviva settles with a licensed entry date before the latest patent expiration. This would create a defined erosion date and could reduce the commercial value of later-expiring patents.

Regulatory-exclusivity scenario

No generic receives approval before the applicable QIDP and NCE exclusivity periods expire. XACDURO remains protected from ANDA approval through approximately 2033, subject to FDA’s final exclusivity records.

No-challenge scenario

The narrow market fails to justify a Paragraph IV case. XACDURO faces no direct generic until routine ANDA filings begin, while hospitals continue to substitute among competing anti-infectives.

What is the investment outlook for XACDURO?

XACDURO has asymmetric commercial potential. A modest increase in resistant A. baumannii incidence or guideline adoption could produce substantial percentage growth from its current base. It is unlikely to become a mass-volume antibiotic without label expansion or broader pathogen utility.

For Innoviva, the product is strategically valuable but not yet a principal earnings driver. Respiratory royalties provide the financial base, while XACDURO offers a specialty-growth asset with long regulatory protection and relatively limited direct generic risk in the near term.

The main indicators for future valuation are:

• quarterly net product sales;
• number of hospitals with formulary access;
• international approvals;
• use outside the original HAP/VABP setting;
• post-marketing outcomes and resistance surveillance;
• gross-to-net adjustments;
• sales and medical-affairs spending;
• patent and Orange Book developments.

Key Takeaways

• XACDURO is a targeted IV antibiotic for susceptible A. baumannii HAP/VABP.
• Innoviva’s reported product revenue increased from approximately $5 million in 2023 to roughly $20 million-$25 million in 2024.
• The market is constrained by low infection volume, stewardship controls and dependence on microbiological confirmation.
• QIDP treatment may extend regulatory exclusivity to approximately May 2033.
• XACDURO faces generic, not biosimilar, competition.
• No material public Paragraph IV litigation or settlement was identified through the 2024 reporting period.
• The strongest protection is expected to come from durlobactam composition and combination patents.
• XACDURO is a specialty hospital-growth asset, not yet a major contributor relative to Innoviva’s respiratory royalty portfolio.

FAQs

What is the price of a XACDURO treatment course?

The commercial cost depends on hospital contracting, wholesaler pricing, dosing duration and renal adjustment. Public list-price comparisons are less informative than net institutional pricing because XACDURO is administered in inpatient settings.

Can XACDURO be used for infections outside hospital-acquired pneumonia?

FDA labeling is limited to susceptible A. baumannii-calcoaceticus complex HAP and VABP. Other uses may occur under clinical judgment, but they are outside the approved indication.

Does XACDURO treat carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter?

XACDURO is specifically positioned for susceptible strains, including many carbapenem-resistant isolates. Treatment requires susceptibility assessment and clinical judgment.

Who commercializes XACDURO in the United States?

Innoviva commercializes the product through its ownership of Entasis Therapeutics, the company that developed sulbactam/durlobactam.

Could XACDURO become a blockbuster antibiotic?

That outcome would require substantial expansion in treated patients, international penetration, broader guideline adoption or additional approved uses. Its current narrow indication makes a blockbuster outcome dependent on market expansion rather than routine volume growth.

References

1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). XACDURO prescribing information. FDA.

2. Kaye, K. S., Shorr, A. F., Wunderink, R. G., et al. (2023). Efficacy and safety of sulbactam-durlobactam for the treatment of hospital-acquired or ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex. The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

3. Innoviva, Inc. (2024). Annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

4. Innoviva, Inc. (2025). Annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Qualified Infectious Disease Product designation and exclusivity provisions. FDA.

6. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations: Orange Book. FDA.

7. Innoviva, Inc. (2022). Innoviva completes acquisition of Entasis Therapeutics. Innoviva corporate announcement.