Last updated: August 3, 2025
Introduction
China patent CN102225047, granted in 2012, pertains to a novel pharmaceutical invention primarily aimed at the treatment of autoimmune diseases, inflammation, or related conditions. As part of strategic patent intelligence, understanding the scope, claims, and patent landscape associated with this patent is crucial for stakeholders seeking to innovate, enter, or compete within the Chinese pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.
Patent Overview
Patent Number: CN102225047
Filing Date: June 8, 2011
Grant Date: March 28, 2012
Applicant: Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd.
Inventors: [Not publicly disclosed in the patent database]
This patent relates to a specific class of compounds, methods of preparation, and their use in medical applications, notably targeting autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.
Scope of the Patent
The patent’s scope encompasses both the compound claims—covering chemical entities and derivatives—and the application claims—covering methods of treatment involving these compounds.
Chemical Entities and Composition
The core of CN102225047 defines a class of heterocyclic compounds characterized by specific structural features. These compounds are designed with modifications aimed at optimizing bioavailability, potency, and selectivity.
- Structural features: The compounds generally possess a heterocyclic core with substituents tailored to improve pharmacokinetics and target engagement.
- Examples: The patent provides specific compound examples, with varying substituents at designated positions, illustrating broad coverage over a class of derivatives.
Method of Synthesis
The patent describes a detailed synthetic pathway, emphasizing methods to produce these compounds efficiently, with potential flexibility to modify substituents, thus enabling diverse derivatives.
Therapeutic Use Claims
Claims extend to the use of these compounds in treating autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or systemic lupus erythematosus, in addition to inflammation-related conditions.
Claims Analysis
The claims are the most critical part of the patent, defining its legal boundaries. CN102225047 includes:
Independent Claims
- Chemical Claims: Cover specific compounds with defined structural features and derivatives thereof.
- Use Claims: Cover methods of treating autoimmune or inflammatory diseases using the claimed compounds.
- Preparation Claims: Cover the synthetic processes to produce the compounds.
Dependent Claims
Dependent claims specify particular embodiments, such as:
- Specific substituents or configurations within the compound class.
- Dosage forms, administration routes, or specific disease indications.
Claim breadth: The claims are constructed to strike a balance between broad coverage of a chemical class and specific, patent-eligible embodiments.
Potential challenges: The scope might face validity challenges if prior art sufficiently discloses similar heterocyclic compounds, though the patent’s novelty appears supported by unique structural modifications and specific synthesis methods.
Patent Landscape Context
Competitor Patents
Multiple patents from Chinese and international applicants explore similar chemical classes, notably kinase inhibitors, JAK inhibitors, and other immune-modulating agents.
- Comparison with international patents: Similar compounds are disclosed in global patents, yet CN102225047’s unique combination of structural features and therapeutic claims provides an inventive step.
- Overlap with existing patents: The scope appears targeted toward specific heterocyclic derivatives—differentiating it from broader chemical class patents.
Patent Timing and Lifecycle
Filing in mid-2011, the patent is relatively recent, falling within the patent term expiry range in 2031, assuming standard 20-year term, granting the applicant a protective window during critical drug development phases.
Patent Family and Extension Opportunities
No direct family filings or patent term extensions (PTE) are evident from the current data. However, subsequent patent filings could be strategic for extending protection or covering new derivatives.
Freedom-to-Operate Considerations
Competitor patents in similar chemical spaces require careful navigational analysis to avoid infringement, especially in formulations, synthesis methods, or specific disease indications.
Implications for Industry Stakeholders
Innovators must evaluate whether the specific structural features of CN102225047 provide freedom to develop derivatives, considering the potential for infringement or the need for licensing.
Generic manufacturers seeking to produce similar compounds would need to design around these claims or challenge their validity through prior art.
Investors should note this patent’s strategic position in autoimmune therapeutic development and monitor ongoing patent filings for possible extensions or new claims.
Conclusion
China patent CN102225047 covers a specifically structured class of heterocyclic compounds with claimed therapeutic utility for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Its scope encompasses the compounds, their synthesis, and therapeutic methods, constituting a robust protective barrier for the applicant within the Chinese market. The patent landscape reveals competitive and overlapping intellectual property, underscoring the importance of detailed freedom-to-operate and invalidity analyses before commercial deployment.
Key Takeaways
- The patent's broad chemical scope provides substantial protection for specific heterocyclic derivatives designed for autoimmune treatments.
- The claims balance broad compound coverage with particular embodiments, yet face potential validity challenges from prior art.
- The patent landscape is crowded with similar chemical class patents; therefore, strategic innovation and patent landscaping are essential.
- Ongoing patent filings and legal status updates could influence the patent’s enforceability and territorial scope.
- For pharmaceutical companies, incorporating the unique structural features of CN102225047 into new compounds may require licensing negotiations or patent challenges.
FAQs
1. What is the primary therapeutic indication covered by CN102225047?
The patent mainly targets autoimmune diseases and inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
2. How broad are the chemical claims of this patent?
The claims cover a class of heterocyclic compounds with specific structural features, along with derivatives, enabling broad coverage within the chemical space.
3. Can this patent be challenged based on prior art?
Yes, if prior art discloses similar heterocyclic compounds with comparable modifications, it could be grounds for invalidity or claim narrowing.
4. Does the patent include methods of synthesizing the compounds?
Yes, it details synthetic pathways which can inform both development and potential design-around strategies.
5. What is the strategic importance of this patent for drug developers?
It provides a protective barrier around specific autoimmune therapeutics, influencing licensing, partnership opportunities, and competitive positioning within China.
References
[1] China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). Patent CN102225047.
[2] WIPO PATENTSCOPE database, global patent landscape for heterocyclic compounds in autoimmune therapy.
[3] Global Data on pharmaceutical patent filings and landscapes.
[4] Frequently cited prior art in autoimmune heterocyclic compound innovations.
