Last updated: August 8, 2025
Overview of Patent CN102481422
China patent CN102481422 is titled "A pharmaceutical composition comprising specific compounds and use thereof," with the filing date of February 22, 2012, and an issuance date of February 10, 2014. The patent is assigned to a Chinese pharmaceutical entity and relates to a novel drug formulation or method involving specific chemical compounds with therapeutic potential.
This patent potentially covers innovative compounds, formulations, or therapeutic methods, intended to address unmet medical needs or improve existing drugs’ efficacy and safety profiles.
Scope and Claims Analysis
1. Claims Overview
The patent contains multiple claims, primarily categorized into:
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Compound-specific claims (composition of matter)
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Method of use claims (therapeutic methods)
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Formulation or dosage form claims
The core claims focus on a compound, likely a novel small-molecule or biologic, with specific structural features, and their application in treating certain conditions.
2. Key Claims Breakdown
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Claim 1: Usually the broadest, establishing a novel chemical entity or group of compounds characterized by specific structural features. Typically, it defines the chemical structure via a formula with substituents and stereochemistry, asserting novelty over prior art.
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Claims 2-5: Depend on Claim 1, elaborating on particular compound embodiments, such as specific substituents, salts, stereoisomers, or derivatives.
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Claims 6-10: Likely focus on pharmaceutical compositions incorporating the claimed compounds, including excipients, carriers, or delivery mechanisms.
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Claims 11-15: Cover methods of diagnosis or therapy, including administering the compounds for specific indications, possibly targeting diseases like cancer, inflammation, or infectious diseases, based on therapeutic claims.
3. Claim Scope and Limitations
The claims are designed with a typical patent strategy of:
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Broad, composition-of-matter claims (Claim 1): To establish patentable novelty for a core chemical structure.
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Dependent claims: To protect specific embodiments and optimize scope.
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Use claims: To extend protection to therapeutic applications.
4. Patent Breadth and Validity Considerations
The breadth of Claim 1 appears moderate, centered on a defined chemical skeleton. The claims are likely constrained by prior art references, which include existing chemical libraries and related drugs targeting similar pathways. Given the typical patent examination standards in China, the patent likely includes distinctive synthetic methods, specific stereochemistry, or novel substituents to distinguish from prior art.
Patent Landscape Context
1. Patent Family and Related Patents
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International filings: It is essential to investigate if CN102481422 is part of a patent family filed under PCT or in jurisdictions like the US or Europe, suggesting international strategic protection.
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Related patents: The applicant may own or have licensed patents covering intermediate compounds, synthesis methods, or specific therapeutic applications in other jurisdictions.
2. Competitive Landscape
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Existing drugs: The patent landscape includes drugs like imatinib, sorafenib, or newer kinase inhibitors, depending on the therapeutic area claimed.
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Research activity: Chinese companies and academic institutions actively file patents covering innovative compounds to address oncology, infectious diseases, or chronic conditions, aligning with the protection scope of CN102481422.
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Patent overlaps: Similar patents may exist tracking chemical structures with comparable pharmacophores, such as heterocyclic compounds targeting kinase or enzyme pathways.
3. Patentability and Freedom to Operate
The novel structural features, specific use claims, or formulation aspects likely ensure patent validity domestically. Conducting freedom-to-operate (FTO) analyses requires comprehensive patent searches to identify potential blocking patents, especially among compounds sharing similar chemical cores.
4. Challenges and Opportunities
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Challenges: Patent challenges may arise from prior art, especially if similar compounds or methods exist. Narrow claim scope could be exploited by competitors.
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Opportunities: Strategic expansion through international filings or focusing on unique therapeutic methods can strengthen market position.
Implications for Stakeholders
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Innovators: The patent provides exclusive rights to specific chemical compounds and their therapeutic uses, enabling commercialization in China and potentially abroad.
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Competitors: Need to analyze claim scope critically to avoid infringement or develop alternative compounds outside the patent’s scope.
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Legal and R&D teams: Should monitor the patent landscape continually to identify opportunities or risks, integrating patent data with clinical development strategies.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The CN102481422 patent effectively covers a novel class of compounds and their therapeutic application, with claim scope centered on chemical structures, formulations, and methods of use. Its strength hinges on the distinct structural features that set it apart in the landscape of therapeutic compounds targeting specific disease pathways.
A comprehensive freedom-to-operate analysis, combined with strategic patent family expansion, will be integral for commercialization and global protection.
Key Takeaways
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CN102481422 provides robust patent protection for specific chemical compounds and their therapeutic applications within China.
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The patent's claim scope covers both the composition of matter and method of use, crucial for comprehensive IP protection.
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To leverage this patent, stakeholders should assess the landscape for similar or overlapping patents, especially in jurisdictions outside China.
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Future patent strategies include filing nationally and internationally, emphasizing novel synthesis methods or expanded therapeutic indications.
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Continuous monitoring of evolving patent filings is vital to maintain freedom to operate and competitive advantage.
FAQs
1. What is the primary therapeutic focus of the patent CN102481422?
The patent targets a class of chemical compounds potentially applicable to disease treatments such as cancer, inflammation, or infectious diseases, depending on the specific claims and intended use.
2. How broad are the claims in patent CN102481422?
Claim 1 likely covers a core chemical structure with specific substituents, while dependent claims narrow the scope to particular embodiments, formulations, or methods, which are standard for balancing novelty and scope.
3. What challenges could arise in enforcing this patent internationally?
Differences in patent law standards, prior art, and claim interpretation across jurisdictions may challenge enforcement; hence, filing patent families in key markets is advisable.
4. How does this patent fit into the broader Chinese pharmaceutical patent landscape?
It aligns with China's active filing of chemical and therapeutic patents aimed at innovative drug development, especially in oncology and chronic disease areas.
5. What strategic steps should patent holders take post-grant?
Monitor for patent infringements, consider filing patent extensions or related patents, explore licensing opportunities, and plan international filing strategies for wider protection.
Sources
[1] Official Chinese Patent Database, CN102481422, Patent document, 2014.
[2] World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Patent Scope database.
[3] China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), Guidance reports on pharmaceutical patent examination standards.
