Patent Term Extension applications

Patent Term Extension applications allow inventors or companies to extend the duration of their patent protection beyond the standard period, typically 20 years. This is particularly relevant for pharmaceuticals and medical devices, where lengthy approval processes by regulatory agencies can delay getting a product to market. To qualify for an extension, the patent holder must demonstrate that the product took longer to obtain regulatory approval than expected. This extension helps recover some of the time lost before the product is available for sale and supports innovation by ensuring inventors can earn returns on their investment.