What are the types of pharmaceutical patents?

There are several different types of pharmaceutical patents that can be granted. Some of the most common include:

Product patents: These patents protect the chemical structure or genetic sequences of a drug.

Usage/Method patents: Also known as method-of-use patents, these patents cover the use of a particular compound to treat a specific disease or condition or new ways of using an existing drug to treat a specific disease or condition. They provide exclusivity for the drug's use in treating certain illnesses.

Composition patents: These patents protect the main active ingredients in a formulation.

Formulation/composition patents: These patents protect the way a drug is formulated and administered. For example, they may cover the dosage form, route of administration, or delivery system used for a medication.

Process patents: These patents cover the manufacturing process for a drug. They may protect the methods used to synthesize the active ingredient or prepare the final product.

Combination patents: These patents cover combinations of two or more active ingredients. They may protect the use of multiple drugs together to treat a specific disease or condition.