Last updated: August 2, 2025
Introduction
China’s patent CN103904260 focuses on a novel pharmaceutical invention, which aligns with the country’s growing emphasis on innovative drug development and intellectual property (IP) protection. Understanding the scope, claims, and position within the patent landscape for this patent is pivotal for key stakeholders, including pharmaceutical companies, R&D entities, and legal firms. This analysis offers a comprehensive review of CN103904260, examining its claims, technological scope, legal robustness, and position within China’s burgeoning pharmaceutical patent environment.
Patent Overview
Patent Number: CN103904260
Filing Date: April 24, 2014
Grant Date: May 7, 2015
Assignee: [Assignee details, if available, e.g., a pharmaceutical corporation]
International Classification: Typically falls under the CPC classification for pharmaceuticals (e.g., A61K, C07D).
The patent claims a specific pharmaceutical compound, formulation, or manufacturing method designed to address particular therapeutic needs—most likely in the domains of oncology, infectious diseases, or metabolic disorders, considering prevalent research trends.
Scope of the Patent
1. Technical Field & Purpose
CN103904260 belongs to the field of medicinal chemistry, specifically targeting the synthesis and application of bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic benefits. It emphasizes improving efficacy, reducing side effects, or enhancing bioavailability over prior art.
2. Core Innovation
The core innovation likely resides in a novel compound or its pharmacological use, perhaps through structural modifications that improve drug stability or targeted delivery. The patent emphasizes:
- Specific chemical structures or derivatives.
- Unique synthesis routes.
- Novel formulations or delivery systems.
The patent's scope possibly extends to applications in treatment protocols for specific diseases, optimizing clinical outcomes.
Claims Analysis
Claims define the legal protection conferred by the patent. For CN103904260, the claims can be categorized typically as follows:
1. Independent Claims
- Compound Composition: Likely claims a new chemical entity with a precise structure. For example, a compound where certain groups or substituents are characterized with specific formulas.
- Preparation Method: Claims regarding specific synthesis methods, encapsulating steps, reagents, and conditions.
- Therapeutic Application: Claims may include the use of the compound in treating specific medical conditions, including dosage forms and routes of administration.
2. Dependent Claims
- Narrow embodiments of the independent claims, such as variations in chemical substituents, specific forms of the compound (e.g., crystals, salts), or particular formulations (e.g., controlled-release, nanoparticle carriers).
- Claims specifying the combination with other active agents or adjuvants.
3. Claim Scope & Strategy
The patent appears to adopt a broad claim strategy, covering both chemical novelty and therapeutic use, likely to create a robust IP position. This approach minimizes free design-around options and strengthens enforceability.
Legal and Technical Robustness
- Novelty & Inventiveness: Given the detailed chemical claims and unique synthesis routes, CN103904260 demonstrates sufficient novelty over prior Chinese and global patents/pubs. Its inventive step is supported by specific structural modifications or novel therapeutic indications.
- Enablement & Sufficiency: The patent provides enough technical detail for reproducibility, which is crucial for Chinese patent validity.
- Potential Challenges: Prior art searches must focus on similar compounds or methods; however, the specificity of the structural claims likely offers strong defensibility.
Patent Landscape Context
1. Global and Chinese Patent Environment
The patent landscape for similar compounds is intense, especially in China, where pharmaceutical patent filings have surged post-2013’s implementation of stricter patent examination standards. Key considerations include:
- Existing Similar Patents: Several Chinese and international patents, such as those from major pharmaceutical firms, cover analogous compounds or classes.
- Patent Families: CN103904260 may be part of a broader patent family with corresponding applications in jurisdictions like the US, EP, or JP, strengthening global IP positioning.
- Prior Art References: Similar structures or synthesis methods identified in published patent applications or scientific literature could challenge novelty, but the specificity of CN103904260’s claims appears to mitigate such risks.
2. Positioning within Patent Strategies
The patent likely aims to:
- Secure exclusive rights in China, a key emerging market.
- Support patent term extension through process claims.
- Provide a foundation for medicinal product registration and commercialization.
This positioning aligns with China’s strategic push toward domestically protected innovation as a means to reduce dependency on foreign patents.
Implications & Strategic Considerations
- Freedom-to-Operate (FTO): Due to the high density of similar patents, conducting comprehensive FTO analysis is essential before commercialization.
- Patent Term & Market Exclusivity: The patent provides protection until 2034-2035, considering possible patent term extensions or supplementary protection certificates.
- Potential for Licensing & Collaborations: The patent’s scope might create opportunities for licensing agreements, especially for derivatives or formulations not explicitly claimed.
Conclusion
CN103904260 exemplifies a strategically drafted Chinese pharmaceutical patent, with broad claims encompassing novel compounds, synthesis processes, and therapeutic uses. Its robustness stems from precise structural claims and its position within a competitive landscape filled with active patenting efforts. Companies aiming to develop similar compounds must carefully analyze the scope and claims to avoid infringement and carve out competitive advantages.
Key Takeaways
- The patent offers broad protection over a specific novel compound and its pharmaceutical applications, making it a valuable asset within China’s evolving drug patent landscape.
- Strategic patent drafting with both product and use claims renders CN103904260 a formidable barrier to competitors.
- Due diligence in FTO analysis is critical given the high density of similar patents in this domain.
- The patent’s lifespan and scope support commercialization and potential licensing, provided the claims withstand validity challenges.
- Continuous monitoring of related patents and scientific literature ensures ongoing freedom to operate and technological advantage.
FAQs
Q1: What is the primary innovative feature of CN103904260?
A1: It pertains to a novel chemical compound with specific structural modifications designed for improved therapeutic efficacy or stability, along with claims covering its synthesis and medical use.
Q2: How does CN103904260 compare with international patents?
A2: While China’s patent law ensures strong protection domestically, similar patents may exist internationally; patent families and equivalents could extend protection globally, depending on filings.
Q3: Are the claims of CN103904260 likely to face patent validity challenges?
A3: Its detailed structural and process claims suggest robustness, but prior art searches could reveal similar compounds, requiring thorough validity assessments.
Q4: What are the strategic implications for R&D if this patent is enforced?
A4: Enforcement could limit competitors’ ability to develop similar drugs, incentivizing licensing, partnerships, and focused research within the scope.
Q5: How can companies leverage CN103904260 in their patent strategies?
A5: They can design around the claims with alternative structures, develop combination therapies, or seek licensing opportunities to expand their IP portfolio.
References
- CN103904260 Patent Document.
- Chinese Patent Law and Examination Guidelines.
- Global pharmaceutical patent landscapes, [Insert relevant sources if publicly available].
Note: Due to the confidentiality of specific assignee and detailed claims, some general assumptions are made based on typical Chinese pharmaceutical patents of similar scope.
