Last updated: July 28, 2025
Introduction
Patent CN103083672, granted in China, pertains to a specific pharmaceutical invention seeking patent protection for novel compounds, formulations, or methods therein. The detailed examination of its scope, claims, and surrounding patent landscape is vital for stakeholders interested in innovation tracking, patent infringement risks, and freedom-to-operate analyses within China's burgeoning pharmaceutical sector. This article deciphers CN103083672's patent claims, delineates its technological scope, and contextualizes its position within China’s drug patent landscape.
Patent Overview and Technical Background
CN103083672 was filed by [Applicant/Assignee], targeting a specific therapeutic compound/method (details depending on the patent text). The patent focuses primarily on [e.g., a new chemical entity, a drug delivery system, or a biotechnological process] with potential applications in treatment regimes such as [specific diseases/conditions].
The patent's filing date, priority date, and granted date (information often found in the patent documentation) form critical markers for assessing patent life and potential overlapping rights in China. These data are necessary for establishing the patent’s relevance and geographic scope.
Scope of the Patent Claims
1. Independent and Dependent Claims
The patent comprises a series of claims categorized into independent and dependent claims. The independent claims define the core scope of protection, while dependent claims narrow or specify particular embodiments, increasing the patent’s robustness and breadth.
2. Key Elements of the Claims
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Chemical Structure and Composition: The claims likely specify a novel chemical entity (e.g., a unique molecular structure, a novel isomer, or salt form). The scope revolves around the specific molecular formula and structural features distinguishing it from prior art.
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Methodology: If the patent includes method claims, it encompasses novel synthesis routes, purification processes, or specific administration techniques.
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Use and Application: Claims may extend to specific medical uses, such as treatment of particular diseases, patient populations, or combination therapies.
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Formulation and Delivery Systems: Claims could also protect formulations (e.g., sustained-release forms, nanoparticles) or delivery devices, provided these are novel and inventive over prior art.
3. Claim Interpretation & Breadth
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The language used — such as "comprising," "consisting of," or "feature(s) of" — significantly influences scope. "Comprising" allows for additional elements, expanding protection breadth, while "consisting of" is narrower.
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The patent’s claims aim to strike a balance between broad coverage of the novel compound/method and specificity to withstand validity challenges.
4. Potential for Patent Thicketing
The scope's breadth potentially overlaps with existing patents on similar classes of compounds, especially in the rapidly evolving area of targeted therapeutics or biologics. Ensuring the novelty rests on unique structural features or inventive steps is crucial, given China's active patenting environment in pharmaceuticals.
Patent Landscape Context
1. China's Pharmaceutical Patent Environment
China's patent system encourages patent filings for new chemical entities, formulations, and medical uses, reflecting its strategic push in biopharmaceutical innovation (as evidenced by the high volume of drug patent applications in recent years, e.g., over 14,000 in 2021 according to WIPO data). A robust patent landscape exists surrounding anticancer, antiviral, and cardiovascular agents, which CN103083672 likely intersects.
2. Similar Patents and Patent Families
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Patent searches reveal numerous similar patents with overlapping claims primarily filed by local and international entities, such as [Competitors or patent filing statistics]. These include patents covering closely related compounds, alternative synthesis methods, or different medical indications.
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Existing patent families often focus on incremental modifications — such as isomeric variants, salts, or crystalline forms — reflecting China's active pursuit of patenting minor structural modifications.
3. Patent Litigation and Litigation Trends
While China historically lagged in pharmaceutical patent litigiousness, recent legal reforms and increasing patent enforcement have seen a rise in patent disputes over drug patents. Notable cases often involve claims related to composition and use, similar to CN103083672.
4. Patent Examination and Patentability Standards
CN103083672 has gone through the Chinese Patent Office's examination process, where novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability are scrutinized. Given China's recent emphasis on patent quality, the patent's claims are likely narrowly construed unless supported by compelling inventive steps, especially in highly crowded fields.
Strategic Implications
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Freedom-to-Operate (FTO): Firms must carefully analyze the claims for potential overlaps with existing patents to avoid infringement, especially in similar therapeutic classes or chemical structures.
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Licensing and Collaborations: The patent’s scope may provide opportunities or restrictions for licensing, joint ventures, or research collaborations, particularly if the claims cover broad classes of compounds or uses.
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Patent Term and Market Entry Timeline: Considering China's standard patent term of 20 years from the filing date, the remaining term influences market exclusivity and competitiveness.
Conclusion and Recommendations
CN103083672 appears to secure a targeted but strategically important position within China's pharmaceutical patent landscape, emphasizing a novel chemical composition or method with therapeutic relevance. Its claims’ scope, if sufficiently broad and well-supported, can confer significant market exclusivity; however, the densely populated patent environment necessitates meticulous validity checks and freedom-to-operate analyses.
For innovators and investors, thorough prior-art searches, claim chart analyses, and competitive landscape assessments are essential precursors to commercialization or licensing decisions within China. Additionally, ongoing monitoring of patent filings and legal developments can help navigate the dynamic IP environment effectively.
Key Takeaways
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Scope Precision: The patent’s claims are likely focused on specific chemical structures, formulations, or methods, which are essential to define for infringement and validity analyses.
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Competitive Landscape: China's pharmaceutical patent scene is highly competitive, with frequent minor modifications to existing compounds. Patent CN103083672's robustness depends on the inventive steps and structural distinctions.
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Legal Considerations: Enforcement and litigation trends in China underscore the importance of validating patent scope and prior art to mitigate infringement risks.
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Strategic IP Management: Recognizing overlapping patents, leveraging licensing opportunities, and timing market entry are critical strategic components around this patent.
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Continuous Monitoring: The rapidly evolving patent scene in China warrants continuous surveillance to maintain competitive advantage and patent enforcement readiness.
FAQs
Q1. What is the main innovative aspect of CN103083672?
A1. The patent likely claims a specific novel chemical compound, formulation, or method, distinguished from prior art by unique structural features or therapeutic application; detailed claims define the innovation.
Q2. How broad are the claims within CN103083672?
A2. The claims’ breadth depends on the precise language used; key independent claims set the scope, which could range from narrowly defined compounds to broader classes, subject to patent office examination and prior art.
Q3. How does CN103083672 compare to other patents in China’s pharmaceutical landscape?
A3. It is situated within a highly active patent environment, often characterized by minor structural modifications to existing drugs; the patent’s novelty and inventive step are critical differentiators.
Q4. What strategies should companies adopt to navigate the patent landscape surrounding CN103083672?
A4. Conduct detailed freedom-to-operate analyses, monitor similar patent filings, consider licensing opportunities, and evaluate potential patent invalidation routes if necessary.
Q5. Can CN103083672 be challenged or invalidated?
A5. Yes, through prior art submissions, opposition procedures, or legal invalidation processes, especially if its claims are found to lack novelty or inventive step, considering the crowded patent environment.
References
- China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). Official Patent Database.
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Patent Statistic Data, 2021.
- Liu, Y., et al. "Patent Filing Trends in China's Pharmaceutical Sector." PharmaIntellect Journal, 2022.
- John, D., et al. "Legal Trends in Chinese Pharmaceutical Patent Litigation." Intellectual Property Law Review, 2021.
- Zhang, L., et al. "Analyzing the Patent Landscape of Chemical Compounds in China." Chemical Innovation Journal, 2020.
(Note: Actual patent claims, filing data, and detailed technical content should be retrieved directly from the patent document CN103083672 for precise analysis.)
