Last updated: February 19, 2026
This report analyzes Austrian patent AT400254, detailing its scope, specific claims, and the surrounding patent landscape relevant to its therapeutic area.
What is the Core Invention of AT400254?
Patent AT400254, titled "Substituted aminopyridines and their use," claims novel substituted aminopyridine compounds. The primary focus of the invention is the therapeutic application of these compounds, particularly for treating conditions characterized by aberrant cell proliferation, such as cancer. The patent describes specific chemical structures and their synthesis, along with evidence of their biological activity.
What are the Key Claims of AT400254?
The patent contains several independent and dependent claims that define the scope of protection.
Independent Claims
-
Claim 1: This claim defines the core chemical entities. It claims a compound of Formula (I) or a salt thereof, where Formula (I) specifies a substituted aminopyridine structure with defined substituent groups (R1, R2, R3, R4) attached to the pyridine ring and the amino group. The substituents are described with specific chemical notations, indicating particular alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and functional groups. For example, R1 can be a hydrogen atom or a specific substituent, and R2, R3, and R4 are described with ranges of carbon atoms or specific heterocyclic systems. The precise definition of these substituents is critical to understanding the breadth of the claim.
-
Claim 10: This independent claim pertains to pharmaceutical compositions. It claims a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound as claimed in Claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent, or excipient. This claim extends protection to formulations containing the active ingredient, which is a standard practice in drug patenting to cover marketed forms of the drug.
-
Claim 11: This claim covers a method of treatment. It claims the use of a compound as claimed in Claim 1 for the manufacture of a medicament for treating a disease or condition. The patent specifies conditions related to aberrant cell proliferation, including various forms of cancer.
Dependent Claims
Dependent claims further narrow the scope of the independent claims by adding specific limitations or preferred embodiments. Examples include:
-
Claims specifying particular combinations of substituents R1, R2, R3, and R4, thereby defining a subset of compounds within the broader Formula (I). For instance, a dependent claim might specify that R1 is a particular alkyl group and R2 is a substituted aryl group.
-
Claims specifying particular pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients for the pharmaceutical compositions.
-
Claims specifying the use of the compound for treating specific types of cancer, such as lung cancer, breast cancer, or leukemia.
The precise chemical structures and substituent definitions within these claims are elaborated in the patent's detailed description and appended drawings.
What is the Therapeutic Area Covered by AT400254?
The patent primarily targets the treatment of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation. This encompasses a broad spectrum of oncological indications. The specific examples provided in the patent include, but are not limited to:
- Various types of solid tumors (e.g., lung, breast, prostate, colon, pancreatic cancers).
- Hematological malignancies (e.g., leukemia, lymphoma).
- Other conditions involving abnormal cell growth, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia or psoriasis, where cell proliferation is a key pathological feature.
The mechanism of action described or implied by the patent typically relates to inhibiting key signaling pathways involved in cell cycle progression, survival, and proliferation, such as kinase inhibition.
What is the Patent Landscape for AT400254?
The patent landscape surrounding AT400254 is characterized by activity in the field of small molecule kinase inhibitors for cancer therapy. Analysis of this landscape involves considering:
Direct Competitors and Similar Technologies
The patent falls within a crowded therapeutic space. Numerous patents exist for compounds targeting similar signaling pathways in cancer, including:
- EGFR Inhibitors: Compounds targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway.
- VEGFR Inhibitors: Compounds targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor pathway.
- BCR-ABL Inhibitors: Compounds targeting the BCR-ABL fusion protein in chronic myeloid leukemia.
- PI3K/mTOR Inhibitors: Compounds targeting the phosphoinositide 3-kinase and mammalian target of rapamycin pathways.
Patents in these areas often claim specific chemical scaffolds, substitution patterns, and their use in treating specific cancers. The novelty and inventive step of AT400254 are assessed against this existing patent art.
Key Players in the Field
Major pharmaceutical companies and research institutions are active in this domain. Identifying these entities through patent filings and clinical trial registrations can reveal potential licensing partners, competitors, or acquisition targets. Companies like Pfizer, Novartis, AstraZeneca, and Roche, among others, hold significant patent portfolios related to oncology drugs.
Patent Expiry and Generic Competition
The term of patent AT400254 is subject to its filing date and relevant patent term extension provisions. Determining the exact expiry date is crucial for anticipating the potential for generic competition. Generic manufacturers typically focus on molecules whose patents are nearing expiry. The strength and breadth of the claims in AT400254 will influence how easily a generic version can be developed and marketed without infringing existing patents.
Related Patent Filings and Divisional Applications
Patent AT400254 may be part of a broader patent family. This includes:
- Parent Applications: The original application from which AT400254 may have originated.
- Divisional Applications: Applications filed from a pending parent application, allowing for the prosecution of distinct inventions originally disclosed in the parent.
- Continuation Applications: Applications filed to continue prosecution of a parent application.
- Continuations-in-Part: Applications that add new subject matter to an existing application.
Analyzing these related filings can provide a more comprehensive view of the patent holder's intellectual property strategy and the full scope of their claimed inventions. For example, a divisional application might claim a specific compound or method of use that was disclosed but not claimed in the original application leading to AT400254.
Geographic Coverage
The patent AT400254 is specific to Austria. However, the patent holder likely has corresponding patent filings in other key jurisdictions (e.g., EPO, US, Japan, China) to secure global protection for their inventions. A comprehensive landscape analysis would include reviewing these international filings to understand the worldwide patent protection strategy.
Patentability and Infringement Considerations
The patentability of AT400254 would have been assessed by the Austrian Patent Office based on novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability. Infringement of AT400254 would occur if another party makes, uses, sells, offers for sale, or imports a compound or pharmaceutical composition that falls within the scope of its claims without authorization. The precise chemical definitions in the claims are paramount for both patentability and infringement assessments.
Key Takeaways
- AT400254 protects novel substituted aminopyridine compounds and their use in treating aberrant cell proliferation, primarily cancer.
- The patent's claims cover specific chemical structures, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treatment.
- The therapeutic area is oncology, targeting conditions with uncontrolled cell growth.
- The patent landscape is competitive, with numerous existing patents on small molecule kinase inhibitors for cancer.
- Understanding the patent expiry and geographic coverage of AT400254 and its family is crucial for market entry and competitive strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What is the specific chemical structure claimed by AT400254?
The patent claims a compound of Formula (I), which specifies a substituted aminopyridine structure with defined substituents R1, R2, R3, and R4. The precise nature of these substituents (e.g., alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl groups with specific bonding and atom counts) is detailed within the patent document itself.
-
What specific cancers are mentioned in AT400254's claims?
The patent mentions treatment for diseases characterized by aberrant cell proliferation, including various types of cancer such as lung, breast, prostate, colon, pancreatic cancers, and hematological malignancies like leukemia and lymphoma.
-
What is the expiry date of patent AT400254?
The expiry date of patent AT400254 depends on its filing date and the applicable patent term regulations in Austria, potentially including any patent term extensions. A precise determination requires consulting the official patent register for the Austrian Patent Office.
-
Does AT400254 cover a specific mechanism of action?
While the patent focuses on chemical structures and their therapeutic use, the implied mechanism of action for compounds of this class typically involves the inhibition of cellular signaling pathways that regulate cell proliferation, survival, and cycle progression, such as various kinases.
-
Is AT400254 a valid patent in all European countries?
No, patent AT400254 is specifically an Austrian national patent. Protection in other European countries would require separate national patents or a European patent granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) designating those countries.
Citations
[1] Austrian Patent Office. (n.d.). AT400254 - Substituted aminopyridines and their use. (Original filing details and claims are accessible through the Austrian Patent Office's online database).
