How Ibrutinib-like Molecules Block Cancer-Causing Proteins
A chemical design for molecules that permanently latch onto and disable a specific protein called Btk, which is often responsible for the growth of certain blood cancers.
Original patent title: “Inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase”
A chemical design for molecules that permanently latch onto and disable a specific protein called Btk, which is often responsible for the growth of certain blood cancers. Granted to Pharmacyclics LLC in 2015 with 13 claims and 33 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a class of chemical compounds designed to bind irreversibly to a protein known as Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk). By using a specific chemical component called a Michael acceptor, these molecules form a permanent covalent bond with the Btk protein, effectively shutting it down. This prevents the protein from signaling cancer cells to survive and multiply. For example, in patients with B-cell lymphomas, this mechanism stops the rogue cells from receiving the instructions they need to keep growing.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover the Btk protein itself, but rather specific synthetic chemical structures that target it.
- Does not cover reversible inhibitors that bind and release from the protein.
- Does not cover non-Michael acceptor based inhibitors that lack the specific covalent binding mechanism described.
- Does not cover general methods for treating cancer that do not utilize the specific chemical structures defined in the claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the use of a Michael acceptor to create a permanent covalent bond with a specific cysteine residue on the Btk protein, ensuring the inhibitor stays attached and keeps the protein disabled indefinitely.
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
Ibrutinib (Imbruvica)
Targeted B-cell lymphoma therapies
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is foundational to the development of targeted cancer therapies like Ibrutinib, which transformed the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. By creating a 'covalent' inhibitor, the inventors moved away from traditional chemotherapy, which kills all fast-growing cells, toward a precision medicine approach that targets a specific protein driver of disease. This shift has significantly improved survival rates and quality of life for patients with specific blood cancers.
Filed
October 17, 2012
Granted
February 17, 2015
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Pharmacyclics, now part of AbbVie, pioneered this technology. Other major pharmaceutical companies like AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly have since developed their own Btk inhibitors, building on the fundamental understanding of covalent inhibition established by this work.
Market impact
This patent helped launch the multi-billion dollar market for Btk inhibitors. It established a new standard for precision oncology, triggering significant investment in covalent drug design across the pharmaceutical industry and leading to a wave of new therapies for autoimmune and malignant conditions.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a class of chemical compounds designed to bind irreversibly to a protein known as Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk). By using a specific chemical component called a Michael acceptor, these molecules form a permanent covalent bond with the Btk protein, effectively shutting it down. This prevents the protein from signaling cancer cells to survive and multiply. For example, in patients with B-cell lymphomas, this mechanism stops the rogue cells from receiving the instructions they need to keep growing.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the use of a Michael acceptor to create a permanent covalent bond with a specific cysteine residue on the Btk protein, ensuring the inhibitor stays attached and keeps the protein disabled indefinitely.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover the Btk protein itself, but rather specific synthetic chemical structures that target it.
- Does not cover reversible inhibitors that bind and release from the protein.
- Does not cover non-Michael acceptor based inhibitors that lack the specific covalent binding mechanism described.
- Does not cover general methods for treating cancer that do not utilize the specific chemical structures defined in the claims.
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
31/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
9/20
Moderate scope
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
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
$236K – $756K
Midpoint $473K · 6.3 yr remaining · 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
Pan, Z., Verner, E., & Honigberg, L. (2015). How Ibrutinib-like Molecules Block Cancer-Causing Proteins (U.S. Patent No. 8,957,079). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8957079/pomalyst-pomalidomide
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 Ibrutinib-like Molecules Block Cancer-Causing Proteins cover?
A chemical design for molecules that permanently latch onto and disable a specific protein called Btk, which is often responsible for the growth of certain blood cancers.
Who owns patent US 8957079?
Pharmacyclics LLC owns this patent, granted in 2015.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on February 17, 2035, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8957079 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 33 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is foundational to the development of targeted cancer therapies like Ibrutinib, which transformed the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. By creating a 'covalent' inhibitor, the inventors moved away from traditional chemotherapy, which kills all fast-growing cells, toward a precision medicine approach that targets a specific protein driver of disease. This shift has significantly improved survival rates and quality of life for patients with specific blood cancers.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover the Btk protein itself, but rather specific synthetic chemical structures that target it.
Patent monitoring