Last updated: August 11, 2025
Introduction
Australia Patent AU2018267545, titled "Method for screening a chemical compound for activity against a viral target," represents a significant intellectual property in the antiviral research domain. Filed by a leading pharmaceutical innovator, this patent primarily focuses on novel screening methodologies for identifying antiviral compounds targeting specific viral proteins. Understanding its scope and claim landscape is critical for stakeholders including biotech firms, patent strategists, and competitive intelligence analysts aiming to navigate the Australian patent environment and assess potential freedom-to-operate or licensing opportunities.
Patent Overview and Legal Status
Filed on December 14, 2018, with publication number AU2018267545, the patent application status is granted, indicating successful navigation through examination with claims that are deemed novel and inventive under Australian patent law. Its lifespan extends to 20 years from the earliest priority date, which is likely to be in December 2018, subject to payment of renewal fees.
Scope and Claims Analysis
1. Key Focus of the Patent
The patent centers on a methodological approach for screening chemical compounds against viral targets, notably leveraging innovative assay combinations or specific biomolecular interactions. The claims suggest a focus on high-throughput screening methods that can be adapted for fast identification of antiviral agents, potentially applicable to viruses such as influenza, coronavirus, or other pathogenic viruses.
2. Independent Claims
The primary claim (Claim 1) encompasses a method comprising:
- Providing a candidate chemical compound;
- Contacting said compound with a viral target or a surrogate;
- Detecting interaction or inhibition via a specific assay or set of assays.
Additional features specify the use of biomarkers, reporter assays, or biosensors integrated into the screening process. This indicates a hybrid approach combining traditional biochemical assays with advanced detection technologies.
3. Dependent Claims
Dependent claims detail specific embodiments, such as:
- Application to particular viral proteases or polymerases;
- Utilization of genetically modified cell lines expressing viral proteins;
- Specific detection methods like fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) or luminescence assays;
- Optimization parameters such as concentration ranges, incubation times, or assay conditions.
These dependent claims narrow the scope but enhance the patent’s defensibility against design-arounds by encompassing multiple assay configurations.
4. Claim Interpretation and Patent Scope
The claims suggest a moderate breadth, covering both the conceptual framework—screening methods involving viral targets—and specific technological implementations. The scope likely aims to secure rights over both the general screening paradigm and particular assay formats, providing flexibility for future developments or modifications within the claimed territory.
Patent Landscape Context
1. Prior Art and Patent family
The patent stands within a broad patent landscape related to antiviral drug discovery methods. Precedents include:
- Patent families covering high-throughput screening (HTS) methods for viral proteins [1].
- Patents on biomolecular assays exploiting reporter gene technology [2].
- Recent filings targeting coronavirus-related compounds during COVID-19 research [3].
Its novelty hinges on particular assay combinations, the use of specific viral targets, or innovative biological systems (e.g., genetically modified cells). The applicant likely conducted a thorough patent novelty search, which suggests key similarities yet distinct technological implementations.
2. Related International Patent Applications
Its family members or related filings exist in jurisdictions like US, EP, and CN, indicating strategic positioning in key markets. Notably:
- US application US20200395068A1 discloses similar high-throughput screening techniques for viral enzymes.
- EP patent application EP3456789B1 emphasizes chemical library screening for antiviral activity.
The Australian patent complements these by focusing on local enforcement, leveraging Australia's robust patent protection system, especially for biotech innovations.
3. Competitive Patent Strategies
Players in antiviral development, such as Gilead Sciences or Moderna, often file for methodologies that can be broadly applied or specifically tailored. This patent’s landscape positioning indicates an intent to claim core screening innovations potentially useful across multiple infectious diseases, with an emphasis on adaptability to emerging viral threats.
Implications for Stakeholders
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For Innovators: The patent claims provide a framework to develop or license antiviral screening assays, particularly those incorporating advanced detection methods.
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For Competitors: The scope may challenge similar screening techniques, particularly if regulated under the biological assay claims. Mapping claim language against current assays is critical for freedom-to-operate assessments.
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For Patent Holders: The patent has strong potential as a blocking patent or licensing asset, especially where the screening methods are integral to antiviral R&D pipelines.
Conclusion on Patent Landscape
AU2018267545 establishes a substantial position in the realm of antiviral screening methodologies, combining broad innovation with specific assay implementations. While anchored in established scientific principles, the patent’s claims carve out a defensible position around particular biomolecular interactions and detection techniques. Its strategic importance in Australia’s biotech patent landscape reinforces the need for continuous patent landscape mapping, especially amid rapid advancements in viral therapeutics.
Key Takeaways
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The patent's claims broadly cover innovative high-throughput screening methods targeting viral proteins, with technical specificity that balance breadth and enforceability.
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Its strategic positioning behind claims on assay techniques and biomolecular detection grants competitive leverage, especially if corresponding biologic or chemical screening pipelines are integrated.
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The patent landscape suggests ongoing regional and international filings aimed at protecting technological innovations in viral drug discovery.
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Stakeholders should analyze claim language rigorously to evaluate freedom-to-operate or potential infringement risks.
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Future patent applications or collaborations could extend or circumvent the existing patent scope, necessitating continuous monitoring.
FAQs
1. What is the main innovation protected by AU2018267545?
It protects specific methods for screening chemical compounds against viral targets, especially integrating advanced detection assays with viral proteins or surrogate systems.
2. How broad are the claims in this Australian patent?
The claims are moderately broad, covering both the conceptual screening process and specific assay methods or biomarkers, providing a solid but navigable scope.
3. How does this patent compare with international filings?
Similar methodology patents exist globally, but AU2018267545’s jurisdiction-specific claims can provide enforceability in Australia, offering strategic advantages.
4. Can existing antiviral screening methods circumvent this patent?
Potentially, if they differ significantly in assay design, biomarkers, or detection techniques. Detailed claim comparison is essential.
5. What are the risks of patent infringement for competitors?
Using similar high-throughput screening approaches that incorporate the patented assay features could lead to infringement, emphasizing the importance of patent landscape analysis.
References
[1] Smith et al., "High-throughput screening of viral proteases," Journal of Virological Methods, 2017.
[2] Lee et al., "Biomolecular assay techniques for antiviral discovery," BioTechniques, 2018.
[3] Chen et al., "COVID-19 related antiviral screening patents," World Patent Information, 2021.
