Last updated: August 11, 2025
Introduction
Patent CN101817800, titled “Preparation method of compound product of compound Lycium barbarum polyphenol and alpha-lipoic acid,” was granted in China and pertains to pharmaceutical compositions involving a combination of Lycium barbarum polyphenols and alpha-lipoic acid. This patent reflects a growing trend within China’s pharmaceutical sector focused on multi-component formulations targeting neuroprotection and metabolic health. A comprehensive examination of its claims, scope, and the patent landscape reveals insights crucial for industry stakeholders, including researchers, companies, and patent strategists.
Patent Overview and Jurisdiction
Patent CN101817800 was granted by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). The patent's priority date is December 31, 2009, with publication in 2011. Its legal status, as of recent updates, indicates active protection, highlighting its strategic importance within the Chinese pharmaceutical IP environment.
Scope and Claims Analysis
Claims Overview
The patent contains multiple claims, principally focused on the composition and preparation methods involving:
- Active ingredients: Lycium barbarum polyphenols, known for antioxidative and neuroprotective properties; and alpha-lipoic acid, recognized for its versatile antioxidant effects.
- Formulation specifics: Ratios, preparation processes, and utilization modes.
The scope is predominantly directed at innovative combinations and their methodologies rather than broad compositions or separate components.
Independent Claims
The key independent claims center on:
- A pharmaceutical composition comprising Lycium barbarum polyphenols and alpha-lipoic acid, with specified molar ratios, purported to enhance neuroprotection and antioxidation.
- Preparation methods involving extraction, purification, and formulation steps to obtain the compound.
These claims aim to secure monopoly rights over the specific combination and its method of synthesis, not merely the single components.
Dependent Claims
Dependent claims elaborate on:
- Variations in dosage forms (e.g., capsules, tablets, injections).
- Specific extraction techniques for the polyphenols.
- Preferred dosage ranges for therapeutic efficacy.
- Additional excipients or carriers that may be employed.
This layered approach broadens protection while maintaining focus on the core inventive concept.
Claim Scope and Novelty
The claims emphasize:
- A specific combination of natural polyphenols and a synthetic antioxidant.
- Synergistic expected effects for neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic syndromes, or oxidative stress-related conditions.
- Preparation methods that ensure high purity and bioavailability.
Given that prior art in both natural products and antioxidant combinations exists, the novelty hinges on the specific ratio, preparation process, and claimed therapeutic effects.
Patent Landscape Analysis
Competitor and Prior Art Context
China’s pharmaceutical patent environment has seen extensive filings involving natural products, antioxidative agents, and combination therapies. Notable trends include:
- Natural product derivatives: Many Chinese patents involve traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) components, including Lycium barbarum (wolfberry) extracts.
- Combination therapies: Combining plant extracts with antioxidants or other bioactive compounds is common, aiming to improve efficacy or reduce toxicity.
- Preparation innovations: Claims often focus on extraction techniques, formulations, and delivery methods.
Compared to prior art, CN101817800 distinguishes itself through:
- The specific ratio and method of combining Lycium barbarum polyphenols with alpha-lipoic acid.
- An emphasis on preparation techniques that optimize bioavailability and stability.
Patent Family and Related Filings
Searches demonstrate that similar innovations might exist as family members or in related jurisdictions such as China’s national filing system (SIPO) or the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). However, the scope of claims remains relatively narrow, protecting only the identified combination and methods.
Legal and Commercial Implications
- Freedom to operate: The patent’s claims, focused on a specific combination, suggest that competitors using alternative ratios or different preparation methods might avoid infringement.
- Patent strength: Its critique lies in potential prior art that covers natural extracts or antioxidant combinations, making the patent’s novelty claim somewhat circumscribed.
- Market potential: China’s growing demand for neuroprotective and antioxidant therapies offers commercial incentives, especially if patent protection is enforceable.
Strategic Implications for Stakeholders
- Research and Development: The patent encourages further exploration of combination therapies involving natural and synthetic antioxidants, with opportunities to develop distinct formulations that avoid infringement.
- Patent Filing Strategies: Focused claims on specific ratios and preparation methods can be valuable but also require careful prior art searches to avoid invalidation.
- Licensing and Partnerships: Given the patent’s scope, licensing negotiations could hinge on the unique features of the formulation and claims.
Conclusion
Patent CN101817800 represents a targeted approach to protecting a specialized combination of Lycium barbarum polyphenols and alpha-lipoic acid, with claims centered on formulation specifics and preparation methods. While its scope is precise—focusing on a particular combination and method—it aligns with China's broader landscape emphasizing natural-synthetic integration and innovative extraction techniques. For industry players, leveraging the patent’s strengths entails developing alternative formulations or improving upon the claimed methods, while respecting its protected scope.
Key Takeaways
- CN101817800 offers focused protection over a specific antioxidant combination with therapeutic potential but has a narrow scope in terms of composition ratios and preparation.
- The patent landscape in China emphasizes natural product combinations, with clear boundaries around extraction and formulation innovations.
- Stakeholders should conduct detailed freedom-to-operate searches considering prior art in natural extracts and antioxidant therapies.
- Strategic R&D should explore alternative combinations or preparation methods to circumvent existing claims while exploring similar therapeutic pathways.
- Licensing opportunities may emerge by leveraging the patent’s protected features or licensing agreements for formulations aligned with the claimed invention.
FAQs
1. What unique aspect does CN101817800 claim over similar patents?
It claims a specific combination and preparation method of Lycium barbarum polyphenols with alpha-lipoic acid, focusing on their ratios and extraction techniques to enhance bioavailability and efficacy.
2. Can other formulations combining Lycium barbarum extracts with antioxidants infringe on this patent?
Potentially, only if they employ the same specific ratios and methods claimed. Variations in component ratios or different preparation processes might avoid infringement.
3. How does this patent influence the development of neuroprotective drugs in China?
It provides patent protection for a novel compound, encouraging further R&D in functional foods and pharmaceuticals targeting neurodegenerative conditions with antioxidant strategies.
4. What are the main vulnerabilities of this patent in the current landscape?
Its narrow scope may be vulnerable to prior art in natural extracts and antioxidant combinations. Broader compositions or alternative preparation techniques may circumvent the patent’s claims.
5. How does China’s patent landscape impact international companies interested in similar compositions?
While the patent protects specific claims within China, international entities must evaluate local patent rights, potentially requiring local filings or designing around claims to avoid infringement.
References
[1] CN Patent CN101817800. "Preparation method of compound product of compound Lycium barbarum polyphenol and alpha-lipoic acid". China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). 2011.
[2] WIPO Patent Scope Database. Search results for Lycium barbarum and alpha-lipoic acid combinations.
[3] China IP Landscape Report 2022. Focus on natural product patents and antioxidant combinations.
