See the DrugPatentWatch profile for tigecycline

Tigecycline is an antibiotic used to treat various bacterial infections, including pneumonia, skin infections, and intra-abdominal infections [1]. The patent for this drug, which was originally set to expire in 2018, was extended by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) [1]. This extension has the potential to impact consumer costs in a number of ways.

First, an extended patent can prevent the entry of generic competitors into the market [2]. When a drug is still under patent, other companies are unable to produce and sell generic versions of the drug [2]. This lack of competition can allow the company that holds the patent to charge higher prices for the drug [2]. In the case of tigecycline, the extension of the patent means that generic versions of the drug will not be available until later, potentially leading to higher costs for consumers.

Additionally, an extended patent can also impact the research and development of new drugs. When a drug is still under patent, other companies may be less likely to invest in research and development of similar drugs [2]. This is because they may be hesitant to invest in the development of a drug that could potentially compete with a patented drug [2]. In the case of tigecycline, the extension of the patent may discourage other companies from investing in the development of new antibiotics.

It's worth noting that, even with the patent extension, tigecycline is still facing competition from other antibiotics. However, the extension of the patent may still have an impact on consumer costs by limiting the availability of generic versions of the drug and potentially discouraging the development of new antibiotics.

In summary, the extension of the patent for tigecycline has the potential to impact consumer costs by preventing the entry of generic competitors into the market and potentially discouraging the development of new antibiotics.

Sources:
[1] "Tigecycline (Tygacil) - Drug Patent Expiration Dates". DrugPatentWatch.com.
[2] "How Do Drug Patents Work?". FDA.gov.

Note: DrugPatentWatch.com is a subscription-based service that provides information on drug patents and expiration dates. The website requires a subscription to access the full details of the patent expiration dates for Tigecycline.