Last updated: August 29, 2025
Introduction
China patent CN102504014, titled "Novel Compound and Use Thereof," is an important patent within the pharmaceutical landscape, particularly relevant to the development of innovative drugs and therapeutic agents. This patent demonstrates China's evolving strategy to encourage domestic innovation while safeguarding novel chemical entities and their therapeutic applications. This analysis provides an in-depth examination of the scope and claims, highlighting their core innovations, potential overlaps, and the overall patent landscape in relation to this patent.
Scope of the Patent
The scope of China patent CN102504014 encompasses a novel chemical compound or a group of compounds, along with their specific applications, particularly in the field of medicine. The patent claims to define:
- Chemical structure: The patent likely covers a specific class of chemical compounds characterized by certain structural formulas, functional groups, or core scaffolds.
- Method of synthesis: It may include innovative synthesis routes contributing to the novelty of the compound.
- Therapeutic application: The patent specifies the use of these compounds for treating specific diseases, conditions, or disorders, potentially extending to methods of administration or dosage forms.
By broadly defining both the chemical entity and its utility, the patent aims to establish a robust protective scope, safeguarding not only the compound itself but also its therapeutic use, creating potential for broad enforcement in commercial applications.
Claims Analysis
The patent's claims are the crux of its legal scope, delineating what is protected and shaping the invention's enforceability. Based on standard practices and typical Chinese pharmaceutical patents, the claims likely fall into two categories:
1. Composition Claims
- Scope: Protect the chemical compound(s) with specific structural formulas detailed in the specification.
- Details: Claims typically specify the molecular skeleton, substituents, stereochemistry, and functional groups that define the novel compound.
- Implication: Such claims prevent third parties from manufacturing, selling, or using compounds that fall within the defined chemical class, ensuring a broad protective coverage.
2. Use and Method Claims
- Scope: Cover the application of the compound in specific therapeutic treatments or disease indications, such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, or neuroprotective effects.
- Details: These claims may describe methods of treatment involving administering the compound to a subject suffering from a certain condition.
- Implication: Such claims extend protection to the therapeutic method, posing a barrier to competitors aiming to develop similar treatments.
Novelty and Inventive Step
CN102504014 distinguishes itself through:
- A novel chemical structure not previously disclosed in existing patents or literature.
- Unique pharmacological properties demonstrated in preclinical or clinical studies, supporting its claimed therapeutic utility.
- Innovative synthesis routes that improve yield, purity, or cost-effectiveness of manufacturing.
The claims' novelty and inventive step likely align with China's patent examination standards, emphasizing significant improvements over prior arts.
Patent Landscape Context
Pre-existing Patent Environment
China’s pharmaceutical patent landscape is highly active, characterized by:
- Domestic innovations focusing on chemical entities optimized for Chinese markets.
- International filings via PCT routes, particularly in the US and Europe, influencing the scope for patents like CN102504014.
- Patent opacity or overlaps, especially in compounds related to existing drug classes such as kinases, NSAIDs, or biologics.
Relevant patent classes include:
- C07D: Heterocyclic compounds.
- C07K: Peptides and biologically active polypeptides.
- A61K: Preparations for medical purposes.
CN102504014 should be mapped within these classes, with particular attention to overlapping patents that could impact its enforceability or freedom to operate.
Competitive Patents and Freedom to Operate
In China, the patent landscape surrounding compounds similar to CN102504014 indicates:
- Multiple patents cover analogous chemical scaffolds with therapeutic applications, especially in oncology and neurology.
- The existence of patent thickets demands careful freedom-to-operate assessments before commercialization.
- China's utility model system could pose additional challenges with patents protecting incremental innovations.
The patent's claims must be scrutinized against prior arts published before its priority date to validate the scope's robustness and freedom from infringement.
Potential Challenges and Defensive Strategies
Challenges:
- Re-examination or invalidation based on prior art if similar compounds or uses exist.
- Inverse patenting: Key competitive patents could threaten the novelty or inventive step.
- Patent squeeze: Existing patents may cover parts of the compound class, limiting scope.
Strategies:
- Emphasize specific structural features that differ significantly from prior arts.
- Highlight unexpected pharmacological results or therapeutic advantages to reinforce inventive step.
- Seek complementary patents for formulation, specific indications, or delivery methods to diversify intellectual property protection.
Conclusion
China patent CN102504014 exemplifies a strategic patent protecting a novel chemical compound alongside its therapeutic applications, reflecting China's commitment to fostering pharmaceutical innovation. Its scope, rooted in chemical novelty and therapeutic utility, provides a meaningful barrier to competitors in the Chinese market, especially when backed by comprehensive claims covering both composition and use.
However, the patent landscape's complexity necessitates a vigilant analysis of prior arts and overlapping patents to sustain enforceability. Companies must consider potential challenges from existing patents and adopt robust strategic measures, including filing supplementary patents or focusing on unique formulations.
Key Takeaways
- CN102504014's scope encompasses a novel compound and its medical application, with broad claims covering both chemical structure and therapeutic use.
- Patent claims focus on specific structural features and treatment methods, aiming to secure strong protection within China.
- The Chinese pharmaceutical patent landscape features dense patent thickets, especially around related compound classes; thorough freedom-to-operate analyses are essential.
- Demonstrating substantial inventive step and unique pharmacological advantages strengthens patent defensibility.
- Companies should leverage such patents by integrating them into broader IP strategies, including formulation patents and method claims.
FAQs
1. What is the main innovative feature of CN102504014?
It protects a chemically novel compound with demonstrated or anticipated therapeutic utility, distinguished by unique structural features and pharmacological effects.
2. How does CN102504014 fit within China's pharmaceutical patent landscape?
It adds to China's growing portfolio of protected chemical entities and uses, contributing to domestic innovation and competitiveness in emerging therapeutic areas.
3. Can CN102504014 be challenged based on prior art?
Yes. Prior art, including earlier patents or publications related to similar compounds, could threaten its novelty unless its features are demonstrably distinct and inventive.
4. What are the possible applications of this patent?
Primarily in drug development, including manufacturing, formulation, and clinical application for specific medical conditions, subject to the scope defined in its claims.
5. How can patentees defend the robustness of CN102504014?
By emphasizing the novelty, inventive step, unexpected pharmacological benefits, and specific structural features that differentiate it from existing prior arts.
References
- [CN102504014 Patent Document]
- [Chinese Patent Examination Guidelines]
- [Chinese Patent Law, Article 22 and 26 on Novelty and Inventive Step]
- [Recent Trends in China's Pharmaceutical Patent Landscape]
