The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a one-year interim extension for U.S. Patent No. 7,534,790, which covers the drug vernakalant hydrochloride. The extension was necessary because the regulatory review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will extend beyond the patent's expiration date of March 31, 2021. Correvio International SÃ rl, the patent owner, applied for this third interim extension as allowed under U.S. patent law for certain cases where market approval is pending. This extension ensures the patent remains valid while the review process continues.
Simple Explanation
The U.S. government gave more time for a company to keep their special rights to a medicine called vernakalant hydrochloride because the people who check if it's safe haven't finished their work yet. This means the company can still be the only one selling it for a bit longer.