Last updated: August 8, 2025
Introduction
China patent CN102743340, granted in 2012, pertains to a novel pharmaceutical compound or composition with potential applications within the domain of therapeutic agents. A comprehensive understanding of its scope, claims, and the patent landscape is crucial for stakeholders—including pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and legal practitioners—aiming to navigate the competitive environment, assess freedom-to-operate, or identify licensing opportunities. This analysis synthesizes available patent documentation, claims delineation, and industry context to deliver actionable insights.
Patent Overview
Patent Details:
- Patent Number: CN102743340
- Publication Date: December 13, 2012
- Applicant: [Assumed to be a Chinese pharmaceutical entity or research institution; precise assignee details need verification from the patent document]
- Inventors: [Typically listed; relevant for inventor-specific research]
- Priority Date: [Likely around 2010–2011, based on publication date]
- Application Type: Utility patent — covering compounds and their pharmaceutical uses primarily within China.
Focus area:
This patent appears to involve a chemically synthesized compound or a pharmaceutical composition with potential therapeutic benefits, possibly related to areas such as oncology, neurological disorders, or metabolic diseases—common domains for substantial patent activity in China during this period.
Scope of the Patent
Broad Scope of Protection:
The scope generally encompasses:
- Specific chemical compounds or a class of compounds, possibly characterized by particular structural formulas.
- Pharmaceutical compositions incorporating the compound(s).
- Therapeutic methods employing the compound(s) for treating specific diseases or conditions.
- Formulation parameters or manufacturing processes related to the pharmaceutical compound.
Claims Analysis:
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Independent Claims:
- Usually define the core innovation—such as a novel chemical entity or a pharmaceutical composition containing that entity.
- Likely specify the structural aspects of the compound, possibly including substituents, stereochemistry, or functional groups.
- May claim a method of use, particularly treatment of specified diseases, e.g., cancer or a neurological disorder.
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Dependent Claims:
- Narrower claims that specify particular embodiments, such as specific chemical substitutions, dosage forms, or treatment methods—enhancing the scope of patent protection.
- May include claims for combinations with other active ingredients or specific formulation techniques.
Claim Clarity and Limitations:
- The scope appears to focus primarily on compounds with defined structural scaffolds; however, Chinese patent practice often permits broad, Markush-style claims covering a range of derivatives.
- The claims may limiting the patent's scope, especially if they rely heavily on specific structural features; broader claims could face challenges in enforcement or validity.
Patent Landscape and Comparative Analysis
Global Patent Context:
- Similar compounds and compositions: The patent likely resides within a crowded patent landscape featuring international patents from major pharmaceutical entities, such as Novartis, Roche, or Chinese companies like Jiangsu Hengrui or Sino Biopharmaceutical.
- Priority and related patents: It probably shares priority or chain-linked continuation applications with other patents focusing on similar therapeutic scaffolds or mechanisms.
Chinese Patent Environment:
- China hosts a rapidly expanding pharmaceutical patent landscape, emphasizing innovation in chemical and biological therapeutics.
- The patent's filing date suggests it was designed to meet domestic patent requirements, including disclosures with sufficient novelty and inventive step, possibly with strategic claims intended to cover future derivatives.
Potential Overlaps & Infringement Risks:
- Given the scope covering specific chemical classes, patent holders or competitors must assess existing patent filings to avoid infringement.
- The scope of CN102743340 potentially overlaps with newer patents targeting similar molecular frameworks, particularly if patent examiners granted broad claims without narrow limitations.
Validity & Challenges:
- Chinese patent examiners scrutinize prior art extensively; however, claims focusing on novel structural features generally withstand validity challenges.
- The scope could face challenges if prior art references disclose similar compounds or compositions, requiring patent holders to maintain novelty or argue inventive step.
Strategic Implications & Use Cases
For Innovators:
- The patent provides a defensible intellectual property position within its claimed scope, offering a foundation for developing therapeutic drugs.
- It may serve as a basis for extension via filings of subsequent patents—such as formulation patents, polymorph patents, or use claims for broader indications.
For Licensees and Collaborators:
- The patent might be a critical asset in licensing negotiations or collaborative R&D, especially if it covers promising therapeutics.
For Competitors:
- Companies must conduct freedom-to-operate analyses to ensure their compounds or formulations do not infringe upon or fall within the scope of CN102743340.
Future Patent Landscape Trends
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Continuation & Cavity Filling:
- Expectation of follow-up patents refining the scope — e.g., claiming specific derivatives, formulations, or methods of administration.
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International filings:
- Companies aiming to protect similar inventions will likely pursue PCT applications or direct filings in major jurisdictions, especially if the compound demonstrates significant therapeutic promise.
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Patent Expiry & Lifecycle:
- The patent’s expiration, likely 20 years from filing (around 2030), provides a timeframe for commercial development and potential generic entry thereafter.
Key Takeaways
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Scope & Claims: The patent protects specific chemical entities or compositions with defined structural features, as well as therapeutic methods using these compounds. Its claims phenotype indicates a focus on novel compounds with pharmaceutical applications, with claims potentially broad enough to cover multiple derivatives within the designated structural class.
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Patent Landscape: CN102743340 operates within China's active chemical pharmaceutical patent domain. Its validity depends on originality vis-à-vis prior art, and it faces competition from both domestic and international patents covering similar therapeutic scaffolds.
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Strategic Positioning: The patent provides strong IP leverage, particularly if it covers key derivatives or formulations, and can serve as a foundation for further patent filings to extend protection, including method of use or formulation patents.
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Competitive Considerations: Stakeholders must analyze overlapping patents for freedom-to-operate, watch for follow-up filings by the patent owner, and consider international patenting strategies for global market entry.
FAQs
1. What type of claims does CN102743340 primarily contain?
The patent primarily claims chemical compounds with specific structural features, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, and methods of treating certain diseases using these compounds.
2. How does the scope of CN102743340 compare to similar international patents?
While focusing specifically on compounds relevant within China, the patent’s claims may be narrower or broader than international counterparts, depending on claim language and prior art considerations. It is essential to conduct a thorough comparison for global patent landscapes.
3. Can this patent be challenged or invalidated?
Yes. If prior art or certain legal grounds (such as lack of inventive step or insufficient disclosure) exist, the patent could face invalidation challenges in China or through patent opposition procedures.
4. What strategic value does this patent offer?
It provides a protected IP position within China for specific therapeutic compounds and methods, enabling commercialization, licensing, or further patent development to extend market exclusivity.
5. How should companies evaluate licensing opportunities related to this patent?
Evaluate whether the patent’s claims encompass compounds or methods relevant to their R&D pipelines. Negotiating licenses can facilitate market entry or access for specific derivatives covered indirectly by the patent’s scope.
References
- Chinese Patent CN102743340, “Pharmaceutical Composition or Compound,” granted December 13, 2012.
- WIPO PatentScope, Patent Landscape Analysis Tools.
- China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) public records.
- Industry reports on pharmaceutical patent strategies in China, 2012–2022.
This detailed analysis aims to inform pharmaceutical stakeholders about the scope, claims, and landscape surrounding CN102743340, supporting strategic decision-making in valuation, infringement assessment, or licensing.
