MPEP § 2757.01 — Due Diligence Determination (Annotated Rules)

§2757.01 Due Diligence Determination

USPTO MPEP version: BlueIron's Update: 2025-12-31

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2757.01, including statutory authority, regulatory rules, examiner guidance, and practice notes. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.

Due Diligence Determination

This section addresses Due Diligence Determination. Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 156(d)(2)(B) and 35 U.S.C. 156(d)(3). Contains: 1 permission and 4 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

PTE Calculation

4 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2757-01-b8e0aecb193f601a9489cb98]
Due Diligence Petition During 180-Day Period After Regulatory Review Determination
Note:
The regulatory agency determines if the applicant acted with due diligence during the regulatory review period for patent term extension within 180 days of its determination.

If a due diligence petition is filed during the 180-day period following publication of the regulatory agency determination of the regulatory review period, the regulatory agency (e.g., FDA) makes the determination under 35 U.S.C. 156(d)(2)(B) whether the applicant for patent term extension acted with due diligence during the regulatory review proceedings. The term “due diligence” is defined in 35 U.S.C. 156(d)(3) as “that degree of attention, continuous directed effort, and timeliness as may reasonably be expected from, and are ordinarily exercised by, a person during a regulatory review period.” After affirming or revising the determination of the regulatory review period, the regulatory agency notifies the Office and publishes the results in the Federal Register. If no comment or petition is filed in the time period provided, the regulatory agency notifies the Office that the period for filing a due diligence petition pursuant to the notice has expired and that the regulatory agency therefore considers its determination of the regulatory review period for the product to be final. Following notification from the regulatory agency, the Office will proceed with the final eligibility determination. See 21 CFR Ch. 1, Subparts D and E.

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StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-2757-01-d417bc747c9644ba0ecdfb59]
Due Diligence During Regulatory Review Period
Note:
The term 'due diligence' is defined as the degree of attention, continuous directed effort, and timeliness reasonably expected from a person during a regulatory review period for patent term extension petitions.

If a due diligence petition is filed during the 180-day period following publication of the regulatory agency determination of the regulatory review period, the regulatory agency (e.g., FDA) makes the determination under 35 U.S.C. 156(d)(2)(B) whether the applicant for patent term extension acted with due diligence during the regulatory review proceedings. The term “due diligence” is defined in 35 U.S.C. 156(d)(3) as “that degree of attention, continuous directed effort, and timeliness as may reasonably be expected from, and are ordinarily exercised by, a person during a regulatory review period.” After affirming or revising the determination of the regulatory review period, the regulatory agency notifies the Office and publishes the results in the Federal Register. If no comment or petition is filed in the time period provided, the regulatory agency notifies the Office that the period for filing a due diligence petition pursuant to the notice has expired and that the regulatory agency therefore considers its determination of the regulatory review period for the product to be final. Following notification from the regulatory agency, the Office will proceed with the final eligibility determination. See 21 CFR Ch. 1, Subparts D and E.

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StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2757-01-b2341dfc1338f5a41b29b673]
Regulatory Agency Must Notify Office and Publish Results in Federal Register After Review Period Determination
Note:
The regulatory agency must notify the Office and publish its determination of the regulatory review period in the Federal Register after affirming or revising it.

If a due diligence petition is filed during the 180-day period following publication of the regulatory agency determination of the regulatory review period, the regulatory agency (e.g., FDA) makes the determination under 35 U.S.C. 156(d)(2)(B) whether the applicant for patent term extension acted with due diligence during the regulatory review proceedings. The term “due diligence” is defined in 35 U.S.C. 156(d)(3) as “that degree of attention, continuous directed effort, and timeliness as may reasonably be expected from, and are ordinarily exercised by, a person during a regulatory review period.” After affirming or revising the determination of the regulatory review period, the regulatory agency notifies the Office and publishes the results in the Federal Register. If no comment or petition is filed in the time period provided, the regulatory agency notifies the Office that the period for filing a due diligence petition pursuant to the notice has expired and that the regulatory agency therefore considers its determination of the regulatory review period for the product to be final. Following notification from the regulatory agency, the Office will proceed with the final eligibility determination. See 21 CFR Ch. 1, Subparts D and E.

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StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2757-01-af7f0ff74e08152ecb50dd22]
No Due Diligence Petition Required After Time Period
Note:
If no petition is filed within the provided time, the regulatory agency considers its review period determination final.

If a due diligence petition is filed during the 180-day period following publication of the regulatory agency determination of the regulatory review period, the regulatory agency (e.g., FDA) makes the determination under 35 U.S.C. 156(d)(2)(B) whether the applicant for patent term extension acted with due diligence during the regulatory review proceedings. The term “due diligence” is defined in 35 U.S.C. 156(d)(3) as “that degree of attention, continuous directed effort, and timeliness as may reasonably be expected from, and are ordinarily exercised by, a person during a regulatory review period.” After affirming or revising the determination of the regulatory review period, the regulatory agency notifies the Office and publishes the results in the Federal Register. If no comment or petition is filed in the time period provided, the regulatory agency notifies the Office that the period for filing a due diligence petition pursuant to the notice has expired and that the regulatory agency therefore considers its determination of the regulatory review period for the product to be final. Following notification from the regulatory agency, the Office will proceed with the final eligibility determination. See 21 CFR Ch. 1, Subparts D and E.

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Topic

PTE Determination Procedure

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2757-01-a92fa41d6062dbdc192c58b3]
Office Proceeds with Final PTE Eligibility After Agency Notification
Note:
The Office will make the final determination of patent term extension eligibility after receiving notification from the regulatory agency following a due diligence petition or expiration of the filing period.

If a due diligence petition is filed during the 180-day period following publication of the regulatory agency determination of the regulatory review period, the regulatory agency (e.g., FDA) makes the determination under 35 U.S.C. 156(d)(2)(B) whether the applicant for patent term extension acted with due diligence during the regulatory review proceedings. The term “due diligence” is defined in 35 U.S.C. 156(d)(3) as “that degree of attention, continuous directed effort, and timeliness as may reasonably be expected from, and are ordinarily exercised by, a person during a regulatory review period.” After affirming or revising the determination of the regulatory review period, the regulatory agency notifies the Office and publishes the results in the Federal Register. If no comment or petition is filed in the time period provided, the regulatory agency notifies the Office that the period for filing a due diligence petition pursuant to the notice has expired and that the regulatory agency therefore considers its determination of the regulatory review period for the product to be final. Following notification from the regulatory agency, the Office will proceed with the final eligibility determination. See 21 CFR Ch. 1, Subparts D and E.

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Citations

Primary topicCitation
PTE Calculation
PTE Determination Procedure
35 U.S.C. § 156(d)(2)(B)
PTE Calculation
PTE Determination Procedure
35 U.S.C. § 156(d)(3)

Source Text from USPTO’s MPEP

This is an exact copy of the MPEP from the USPTO. It is here for your reference to see the section in context.

BlueIron Last Updated: 2025-12-31