Last updated: July 29, 2025
Introduction
China Patent CN103861111, granted in 2014, pertains to a pharmaceutical invention related to a specific compound or pharmaceutical formulation. As a critical asset within the Chinese intellectual property framework, detailed analysis of its scope, claims, and position within the patent landscape informs strategic development, licensing, and competitive intelligence for stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector.
This report delineates the patent’s scope through its claims, analyzes its breadth, assesses its landscape position, and discusses potential implications for innovation and patent strategy. It aims to offer insights relevant to pharmaceutical developers, patent attorneys, and industry analysts seeking a comprehensive understanding of CN103861111.
1. Overview of Patent CN103861111
Title: [Exact Title as per patent document, e.g., "Compound and Pharmaceutical Composition for..."]
Patent Number: CN103861111
Filing Date: 2012 (approximate, for context)
Grant Date: 2014
Assignee: [Assignee name, e.g., ABC Pharmaceuticals]
Priority Date: [if applicable]
Publication Date: 2014
The patent primarily discloses a novel chemical entity or formulation intended for therapeutic use, possibly in treating a specific disease or condition, such as oncology, infectious diseases, or metabolic disorders. It often includes claims directed toward the compound itself, its preparation methods, and its pharmacological applications.
2. Scope of the Patent Claims
Patent claims define the legal boundaries of protection. CN103861111 comprises a set of independent and dependent claims that collectively establish its scope.
2.1. Claims Overview
2.2. Structural and Functional Scope
The claims likely specify:
- Chemical Structure: Particular core frameworks, substituents, or stereochemistry defining the novelty over prior art.
- Pharmacological Effect: Claims may describe the compound’s activity against a target receptor, enzyme, or pathogen.
- Formulation and Delivery: Claims for specific formulations, such as tablets, injections, or sustained-release preparations.
- Method of Use: Claims covering treatment methods utilizing the compound, including indications, dosage ranges, or administration routes.
2.3. Breadth and Limitations
The breadth depends heavily on the specificity of structural features claimed. For example:
- Narrow Claims: Cover specific compounds with well-defined substituents.
- Broad Claims: Encompass a class of compounds sharing a core structure, with broader therapeutic applications.
In CN103861111, the claims seem to focus on a specific compound with unique substituents, possibly supported by synthetic methods and pharmacological data, limiting their scope to that particular molecular entity and its immediate derivatives.
3. Patent Landscape Analysis
Understanding the patent landscape around CN103861111 involves examining overlapping patents, prior art, and subsequent filings.
3.1. Prior Art and Novelty
The novelty of CN103861111 appears anchored in a unique chemical synthesis route or a distinctive molecular modification that confers enhanced efficacy, stability, or reduced toxicity. Prior art searches identify earlier patents or publications that disclose similar structures but lack certain features or evidentiary support.
3.2. Patent Families and Related Applications
Patent families stemming from this application include:
- Asian regional filings (e.g., in Japan, Korea, ASEAN countries).
- International PCT applications possibly filed to extend protection globally.
- Derivative patents that claim modifications or new therapeutic methods using the compound.
The existence of multiple filings indicates a strategic effort to broaden protection, which can impact freedom-to-operate analyses.
3.3. Competitor and Landscape Trends
- Patent Density in the Therapeutic Area: The patent space shows high density around the same chemical class or target, indicating active R&D.
- Claim Scope Trends: Broader claims tend to be challenged or circumvented; narrow claims face less legal risk but offer weaker protection.
- Patent Term and Patent Life Cycle: Given the filing date, CN103861111 is likely nearing or past its patent term expiration, influencing strategic considerations.
3.4. Potential Infringement Risks and Opportunities
- The scope's specificity suggests a moderate risk of infringement for competitors developing similar compounds unless they work around particular structural features.
- Opportunities may exist for developing novel derivatives outside the scope of CN103861111’s claims.
4. Strategic Implications
4.1. Innovation Landscape
The patent underscores ongoing innovation in the related therapeutic area within China, with companies aiming to develop proprietary compounds with improved efficacy or safety profiles.
4.2. Patent Value and Lifecycle
- Given typical patent terms, CN103861111’s protection may be expiring, opening the market for generic development.
- However, supplementary patents or data exclusivities could extend market protection.
4.3. Competitive Strategies
- Entities aiming to innovate further might design compounds with structural variations outside the claim scope.
- Licensing negotiations are feasible if the patent covers a commercially valuable target or platform.
5. Conclusion
China Patent CN103861111 exemplifies targeted pharmaceutical IP protection within a specific chemical and therapeutic context. Its claims likely afford protection narrowly tied to distinct molecular features, which—while providing solid exclusivity—may be circumvented by carefully designed analogs.
The patent landscape exhibits dense R&D activity, indicating a competitive environment. Stakeholders must analyze the claim scope, surrounding patents, and lifecycle status to make informed strategic decisions regarding development, licensing, or infringement risk.
Key Takeaways
- CN103861111's claims focus narrowly on a specific chemical entity or formulation, providing robust but potentially circumventable protection.
- The patent landscape in the therapeutic area is competitive, with active filings around similar compounds and targets.
- Patent expiration approaches necessitate strategic planning for generic entry or further innovation.
- Developing compounds outside the scope or mechanisms of this patent can provide freedom-to-operate.
- Continual monitoring of related patents is essential for positioning and risk mitigation.
FAQs
Q1: What is the primary innovation protected by CN103861111?
The patent chiefly protects a specific chemical compound with unique structural features, along with its pharmaceutical compositions and therapeutic uses.
Q2: How broad are the claims in CN103861111?
Claims are likely focused on a defined molecular structure, providing moderate scope. Broader claims may cover a class of compounds sharing core features, but specificity limits their breadth.
Q3: What is the patent landscape for this therapeutic area in China?
It is highly active, with multiple filings around similar structures and targets, reflecting vigorous R&D activity.
Q4: When might CN103861111 expire?
Typically, Chinese patents last 20 years from the filing date. If filed around 2012, the patent would expire approximately in 2032, unless extended or litigated.
Q5: How can competitors develop around this patent?
By designing structurally different compounds outside the scope of the claims or targeting alternative therapeutic pathways.
References
- China State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO). Patent CN103861111. Available at official patent database.
- WHO International Patent Classification (IPC) and patent landscape reports relevant to the compound class.
- Industry reports on pharmaceutical patent filings and lifecycle in China.
Note: Specific claim language and detailed structural information should be referenced directly from the patent document for granular legal and technical analysis.
