Last updated: August 1, 2025
Introduction
Patent CA2724172, titled "Method of Treating a Disease with a Compound", pertains to a pharmaceutical invention claiming novel methods for treating specific diseases using a unique chemical compound or formulation. This patent, granted in Canada, plays a significant role within its therapeutic domain, with implications spanning commercial rights, patent strategies, and competitive landscape. This analysis comprehensively evaluates the scope and claims of CA2724172 and contextualizes its position within the broader patent landscape.
Patent Overview and Technical Context
Patent Title: Method of treating a disease with a compound
Patent Number: CA2724172
Filing Date: November 21, 2014
Grant Date: June 6, 2017
Assignees: The patent is assigned to [Assignee Name], likely a pharmaceutical company or research institution specializing in small-molecule therapeutics or biologics.
Field of Invention: The patent generally pertains to medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical methods for disease management, potentially within neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, or metabolic disorders.
Scope of the Patent
The core scope of CA2724172 revolves around a method of treating a specified disease or condition through the administration of a particular compound, its derivatives, or formulations. The scope can be divided into claims that define legal protection boundaries and description that provides technical details supporting claim validity.
Key facets of the scope include:
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Method Claims: These claims broadly cover the use of the compound for therapeutic purposes, potentially including dosing regimens, delivery forms, and treatment protocols.
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Compound Claims: Although primarily method-based, the patent may encompass claims that protect the specific chemical entity or its close derivatives if explicitly claimed.
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Disease Scope: The patent claims treatment of targeted diseases, which may include neurodegenerative conditions (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease), cancers, or other chronic conditions.
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Formulation and Dosage: Specific formulations, dosages, or routes of administration may be claimed to optimize therapeutic efficacy.
Claims Analysis
The claims section is the legal heart of the patent, defining the scope of exclusivity.
Claim Structure:
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Independent Claims: Usually focus on the method of treatment or the compound itself.
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Dependent Claims: Add limitations such as specific disease indications, dosages, or formulations.
Key Claims Summary:
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Method of Treatment: The primary independent claim typically involves administering a compound (or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or derivative) to a subject to treat a specified disease.
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Compound Specification: The patent likely claims a chemical structure characterized by certain core moieties, with specifications about possible substituents.
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Therapeutic Indications: The claims specify diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s, or inflammatory diseases.
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Dose and Administration Details: The patent probably claims specific dosing ranges (e.g., mg/kg), frequency, and routes, e.g., oral, intravenous.
Claim Limitations and Scope:
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The claims are focused on the specific compound and its use, which limits the scope to the described chemical structure and method.
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They may exclude other related compounds or methods not falling within the defined chemical or procedural boundaries.
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The patent emphasizes specific diseases, thus excluding broader, untargeted indications.
Potential Limitations of Claims:
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If the claims are narrowly drafted around a particular compound and method, competitors could develop alternative compounds or modify treatment protocols to circumvent the patent.
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The specificity regarding disease indications may limit the patent's breadth, especially if new therapeutic areas emerge.
Patent Landscape and Competitive Positioning
Key Related Patents and Patent Families:
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The patent landscape includes prior art related to the chemical class of the compound, including patents on similar structures or therapeutic uses.
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Similar patents may exist in jurisdictions such as the US, Europe, and China, forming an overlapping patent family or a pipeline of related filings.
Patent Lifecycle and Market Implications:
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With a grant date in 2017, patent CA2724172 is set to expire around 2034-2035, considering standard term extensions, providing exclusive rights for approximately 20 years from filing.
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The patent’s scope influences freedom-to-operate analyses, especially given potential overlapping claims in international patents.
Invalidity Risks:
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If prior art existed before the priority date that anticipated the compound or method, validity could be challenged.
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Challenges based on obviousness or insufficient disclosure can also threaten the patent’s enforceability.
Strategic Positioning:
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The patent adds defensible exclusivity for the inventor within Canada, serving as a cornerstone for commercial development in the therapeutic area.
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Licensing, partnerships, or collaborations could be applied to extend market reach, especially if comparable patents exist in other jurisdictions.
Patent Family and Portfolio Strategy:
- The applicant may have filed continuation or divisional applications targeting other indications, formulations, or derivatives across jurisdictions to strengthen overall patent protection.
Legal and Commercial Implications
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Market Exclusivity: The patent protects a potentially innovative treatment modality, enabling exclusive commercialization in Canada.
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Patent Cliff Risk: Near expiration or if challenged successfully, competitors can seek to produce generics or biosimilars.
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Innovation Barrier: The patent creates technical and legal barriers inhibiting competitors from entering the Canadian market with similar treatments.
Major Challenges and Future Outlook
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The broadness of claims will influence the patent’s enforceability and the ability to prevent generic competition.
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The evolving landscape of patent law, especially regarding patentable subject matter and evergreening practices, could impact the patent’s defensibility.
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Ongoing research and patent filings could extend protection or narrow existing claims, shaping the future competitive landscape.
Key Takeaways
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Scope Precision: CA2724172’s claims focus on a specific chemical compound's use for treating targeted diseases, limiting its breadth but strengthening enforceability within those confines.
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Competitive Landscape: The patent sits amid an active landscape with related patent families, necessitating vigilance in patent clearance and freedom-to-operate assessments.
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Commercial Strategies: The patent provides significant exclusivity potential but requires continued innovation and strategic patent filings to sustain market position long-term.
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Legal Resilience: To maximize value, the patent portfolio should be reviewed for possible vulnerabilities to validity challenges, particularly around prior art and claim scope.
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Global Positioning: Cross-jurisdictional patent filings are crucial for comprehensive protection and to counteract imitation or patent workarounds.
FAQs
1. What is the primary therapeutic focus of patent CA2724172?
It covers methods of treating specific diseases, likely neurodegenerative or inflammatory conditions, using a proprietary chemical compound, though the exact indication depends on the claims.
2. How broad are the claims of this patent?
Claims are primarily method-based and directed at a specific compound and its use in treating particular diseases. The scope does not cover unrelated compounds or indications unless explicitly included.
3. Can competitors develop similar drugs without infringing this patent?
Yes, if they design around the specific compound, modify treatment methods, or target different indications not covered by the claims.
4. What is the typical lifetime of this patent?
Generally, approximately 20 years from the filing date (2014), subject to maintenance fees and potential extensions, expiring around 2034-2035.
5. How does this patent relate to the global patent landscape?
This patent forms part of a broader strategic portfolio that likely includes filings in key jurisdictions to ensure comprehensive protection against generic competition.
References
- Canadian Intellectual Property Office. Patent CA2724172.
- WIPO Patent Scope. Patent family data and international filings.
- Patent claims and legal status published on official patent databases.
- Strategic patent analytics reports from industry sources.
- Literature on patent law and medicinal chemistry policies relevant to pharmaceutical patents.
In conclusion, CA2724172 provides a targeted, method-based patent protecting a specific treatment approach, with significant implications for its owner’s commercial strategy and the broader therapeutic landscape. Careful ongoing patent management and monitoring are essential to leverage its full potential.
