Gilead's Chemical Compounds for Treating HIV Infections
This patent covers specific chemical structures designed to block HIV from replicating in human cells, providing a foundation for new antiviral medications.
Original patent title: “Substituted 2,3,4,5,7,9,13,13a-octahydropyrido[1′,2′:4,5]pyrazino[2,1-b][1,3]oxazepines and methods for treating viral infections”
This patent covers specific chemical structures designed to block HIV from replicating in human cells, providing a foundation for new antiviral medications. Granted to Gilead Sciences Inc in 2015 with 12 claims and 35 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → specific chemical structures known as substituted octahydropyrido-pyrazino-oxazepines. These molecules act as inhibitors, which means they are designed to bind to viral proteins to stop the HIV virus from completing its life cycle. By preventing the virus from integrating its genetic material into the host cell, these compounds help reduce the viral load in a patient. The patent also covers the pharmaceutical formulations, such as pills or liquids, that combine these active chemical compounds with carriers or diluents for safe delivery into the body.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover general classes of HIV drugs like protease inhibitors or reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
- Does not cover the biological process of HIV infection itself.
- Does not cover other chemical structures that fall outside the specific formula defined in the claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →.
- Does not cover methods of manufacturing the chemical precursors used to synthesize these compounds.
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 specific tricyclic scaffold—the octahydropyrido[1',2':4,5]pyrazino[2,1-b][1,3]oxazepine core—which provides a rigid, three-dimensional shape that fits precisely into the viral enzyme's active site, blocking its function more effectively than previous, more flexible molecules.
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
Experimental HIV antiviral drug candidates
Pre-clinical pharmaceutical research compounds
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Gilead Sciences is a leader in HIV therapy, and this patent represents the intellectual property protecting specific candidates in their drug development pipeline. These compounds are part of the ongoing effort to create more effective, better-tolerated, or longer-lasting treatments for HIV patients. Such patents are essential for pharmaceutical companies to justify the massive costs of clinical trials and regulatory approval.
Filed
December 19, 2013
Granted
December 22, 2015
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Gilead Sciences continues to build on this chemical scaffold through their internal R&D programs. Other major pharmaceutical companies researching HIV integrase inhibitors or capsid inhibitors also monitor these patent landscapes to ensure their own drug candidates do not infringe on this specific chemical space.
Market impact
This patent strengthens Gilead's portfolio in the highly competitive HIV treatment market. It provides a legal barrier that prevents competitors from using these specific molecular structures, ensuring that if a drug based on these compounds reaches the market, the company can recoup its investment without immediate generic competition.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent claims specific chemical structures known as substituted octahydropyrido-pyrazino-oxazepines. These molecules act as inhibitors, which means they are designed to bind to viral proteins to stop the HIV virus from completing its life cycle. By preventing the virus from integrating its genetic material into the host cell, these compounds help reduce the viral load in a patient. The patent also covers the pharmaceutical formulations, such as pills or liquids, that combine these active chemical compounds with carriers or diluents for safe delivery into the body.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the specific tricyclic scaffold—the octahydropyrido[1',2':4,5]pyrazino[2,1-b][1,3]oxazepine core—which provides a rigid, three-dimensional shape that fits precisely into the viral enzyme's active site, blocking its function more effectively than previous, more flexible molecules.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover general classes of HIV drugs like protease inhibitors or reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
- Does not cover the biological process of HIV infection itself.
- Does not cover other chemical structures that fall outside the specific formula defined in the claims.
- Does not cover methods of manufacturing the chemical precursors used to synthesize these compounds.
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
8/20
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
$338K – $1.1M
Midpoint $675K · 7.5 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
12 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Jin, H., Lazerwith, S. E., & Pyun, H. (2015). Gilead's Chemical Compounds for Treating HIV Infections (U.S. Patent No. 9,216,996). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9216996/genvoya-elvitegravir-cobicistat-taf-ftc
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US9216996"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
More to explore
More in Biotech & Medicine
US 4683195 · 1987 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
US 8697359 · 2014 · Massachusetts Institute of Technology
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
US 4733665 · 1988 · Expandable Grafts Partnership
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
US 4965188 · 1990 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gilead's Chemical Compounds for Treating HIV Infections cover?
This patent covers specific chemical structures designed to block HIV from replicating in human cells, providing a foundation for new antiviral medications.
Who owns patent US 9216996?
Gilead Sciences Inc owns this patent, granted in 2015.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on December 22, 2035, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9216996 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 35 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Gilead Sciences is a leader in HIV therapy, and this patent represents the intellectual property protecting specific candidates in their drug development pipeline. These compounds are part of the ongoing effort to create more effective, better-tolerated, or longer-lasting treatments for HIV patients. Such patents are essential for pharmaceutical companies to justify the massive costs of clinical trials and regulatory approval.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover general classes of HIV drugs like protease inhibitors or reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
Same assignee
More from Gilead Sciences Inc
Patent monitoring