The Merck Index: an encyclopedia of chemicals, drugs and biologicals

• The main source to find the patent date of a drug is available both in print and online in Bracken Library. The resource is called "The Merck Index: an encyclopedia of chemicals, drugs and biologicals". This 14th edition is published by Merck & Co., Inc.

• Click on the Merck Index to access the online reference book.

• The print version can be found in Bracken Library 's reference section with the following call number: REF QV77s .M555 2006.

• The drug entry in The Merck Index often contains concise information. To become familiar with how to interpret the information, review the explanatory notes.

• Other User Help Guides can be reviewed online as well.

• The patent date of a drug is important to determine the starting point of your journal literature search.

Partial sample entry from The Merck Index Online with explanatory notes.

• Is your drug still advertised for the same therapeutic use it was originally intended?
  • If YES: Check the Merck Index for the patent date. Also, search the literature around the patent date.
  • If NO: Look for later trials for this new use.
  • New uses for an old drug do not require a new patent. Look for FDA or Health Canada approval if you cannot find a patent date for your drug.

• In the sample entry above, there are two US patents and dates:
  
  • US 2467927 (1949 to B.F. Goodrich)
  • US 2412454 (1959 to Rohn & Haas)

Photograph from the Merck Publishing web site.

http://www.merckbooks.com/mindex/index.html

 

Task Learn more about the Merck Index by answering the following question. 1. What are the US patent date(s) for simvastatin and which company holds the patent(s)?