How a Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Molecule Was Patented
This patent protects the specific chemical structure of a molecule designed to lower cholesterol, including its various salt forms and its use in medicine.
Original patent title: “[R-(R*R*)]-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-β,δ-dihydroxy-5-(1-methylethyl-3-phenyl-4-[(phenylamino) carbonyl]- 1H-pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid, its lactone form and salts thereof”
This patent protects the specific chemical structure of a molecule designed to lower cholesterol, including its various salt forms and its use in medicine. Granted to Warner Lambert Co LLC in 1993 with 13 claims and 519 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent specifically claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → a complex organic molecule, identified by its chemical name and structure, that is designed to treat high cholesterol. It covers the molecule itself, including its acid and lactone forms, as well as various pharmaceutically acceptable salts like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium salts. ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 11 describes a pharmaceutical composition containing this molecule for treating hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol). Claim 12 outlines a method for treating high cholesterol in humans by administering this molecule.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover other types of cholesterol-lowering drugs that do not use this specific chemical structure.
- Does not cover the synthesis process or manufacturing methods for the molecule.
- Does not cover the use of the molecule for treating conditions other than hypercholesterolemia.
- Does not cover the molecule if it is not in a pharmaceutically acceptable salt form.
- Does not cover the molecule if it is not in the specific stereochemical configuration claimed.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the precise chemical architecture of the molecule, which was found to be highly effective at inhibiting cholesterol synthesis. This specific structure, including its stereochemistry, was the key to its potent therapeutic effect.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is significant because it covers a key molecule that became the active ingredient in a widely used cholesterol-lowering drug. The drug, known as atorvastatin (marketed as Lipitor), became one of the best-selling pharmaceuticals of all time, profoundly impacting the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Filed
February 26, 1991
Granted
December 28, 1993
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Pfizer, the company that developed and marketed Lipitor, was the primary beneficiary of this patent. Following its expiration, numerous generic pharmaceutical companies now manufacture and sell generic versions of atorvastatin.
Market impact
This patent protected a blockbuster drug that dominated the hypercholesterolemia market for years. Its commercial success led to massive revenue for the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more → and significantly influenced the pharmaceutical industry's focus on statin drugs for cardiovascular health. The patent's expiration led to a surge in generic competition, drastically lowering the cost of atorvastatin.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent specifically claims a complex organic molecule, identified by its chemical name and structure, that is designed to treat high cholesterol. It covers the molecule itself, including its acid and lactone forms, as well as various pharmaceutically acceptable salts like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium salts. Claim 11 describes a pharmaceutical composition containing this molecule for treating hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol). Claim 12 outlines a method for treating high cholesterol in humans by administering this molecule.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the precise chemical architecture of the molecule, which was found to be highly effective at inhibiting cholesterol synthesis. This specific structure, including its stereochemistry, was the key to its potent therapeutic effect.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover other types of cholesterol-lowering drugs that do not use this specific chemical structure.
- Does not cover the synthesis process or manufacturing methods for the molecule.
- Does not cover the use of the molecule for treating conditions other than hypercholesterolemia.
- Does not cover the molecule if it is not in a pharmaceutically acceptable salt form.
- Does not cover the molecule if it is not in the specific stereochemical configuration claimed.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
9/20
Moderate scope
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$113K – $360K
Midpoint $225K · expired or expiring · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
13 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Roth, B. D. (1993). How a Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Molecule Was Patented (U.S. Patent No. 5,273,995). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5273995/viagra-sildenafil
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How a Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Molecule Was Patented cover?
This patent protects the specific chemical structure of a molecule designed to lower cholesterol, including its various salt forms and its use in medicine.
Who owns patent US 5273995?
Warner Lambert Co LLC owns this patent, granted in 1993.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 5273995 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 519 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is significant because it covers a key molecule that became the active ingredient in a widely used cholesterol-lowering drug. The drug, known as atorvastatin (marketed as Lipitor), became one of the best-selling pharmaceuticals of all time, profoundly impacting the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover other types of cholesterol-lowering drugs that do not use this specific chemical structure.
Same assignee
More from Warner Lambert Co LLC
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