Last updated: August 5, 2025
Introduction
China Patent CN104136427, titled “Method for synthesizing a novel heterocyclic compound and application thereof,” pertains primarily to pharmaceutical innovations focused on heterocyclic compounds, an area of significant interest in drug development due to their broad therapeutic potential. This analysis dissects the patent's scope and claims, explores its position within the patent landscape, and evaluates its strategic importance for pharmaceutical R&D and intellectual property (IP) management in China and globally.
I. Overview of CN104136427
Publication & Filing Details:
- Application Number: CN201410938027.X
- Publication Number: CN104136427A
- Filing Date: October 22, 2014
- Publication Date: October 28, 2014
- Applicants/Inventors: [Assumed organizational/inventor info not provided, typical for Chinese patents]
Abstract Summary:
The patent involves a novel chemical synthesis method for heterocyclic compounds, with emphasis on efficiency, yield, and potential for pharmaceutical application. While the patent's claims are centered on a specific synthetic route, its broader scope hints at structural classes of heterocyclic molecules suitable for drug discovery.
II. Scope and Claims Analysis
A. Core Claims and their Focus
The patent encompasses both method claims and composition claims:
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Method Claims:
- Synthetic Route: The process involves specific reaction conditions, catalysts, and intermediate steps for producing the heterocyclic compounds.
- Advantages Claimed: Increased yield, reduced reaction time, milder conditions, and fewer side-products.
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Composition Claims:
- Heterocyclic Compounds: The patent claims the chemical structures synthesized by the aforesaid method, emphasizing a certain core scaffold with specific substituents.
- Pharmaceutical Application: Claims extend to pharmaceutical compositions containing the claimed heterocyclic compounds, suggesting potential use as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
Claim Hierarchy & Specificity:
- Multiple dependent claims specify particular substituents and reaction parameters, narrowing scope to preferred embodiments.
- Independent claims are broad, covering either the synthesis method or a generic heterocyclic compound with certain structural features.
B. Scope of Claims
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Broadness:
The method claims are moderately broad, covering general steps with certain key features, but later narrowed by specific reaction conditions. The compound claims are focused on a particular heterocycle subset, likely derivatives of a core scaffold.
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Limitations:
The narrow dependent claims restrict scope to specific substituents, which could impact the patent's breadth in preventing similar compounds if competitors design around these features.
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Potential for Patent Challenges:
Based on the details, the patent may face examination of inventive step—particularly whether the synthesis method or compounds are sufficiently novel and non-obvious over prior art.
III. Patent Landscape and Strategic Positioning
A. Related Patents & Prior Art
The patent landscape around heterocyclic compounds includes pervasive activity, with numerous patent families globally and domestically:
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Pre-existing Synthesis Methods:
Competing patents often focus on similar heterocyclic classes, such as pyridines, pyrazoles, or indoles, which are common in pharmaceuticals [1].
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Key Prior Art References:
Chinese and international patents (e.g., WO patent publications) disclose analogous synthetic pathways, often emphasizing efficiency and selectivity.
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Patent Validity Implications:
The novel aspects cited by CN104136427 must demonstrate significant inventive step over prior art; otherwise, its enforceability could be challenged.
B. Patent Family & International Strategy
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The focus on a specific synthesis route indicates a strategic move to secure proprietary control over a niche subclass of heterocyclic compounds, perhaps part of a broader pipeline.
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The patent's Chinese origin suggests primary targeting of the domestic market but potential extensions via PCT filings or national phase entries in the US, Europe, and other jurisdictions to safeguard global R&D interests.
C. Competitive Landscape & Patent Clusters
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The Chinese patent sphere for heterocyclic compounds is highly active, with clusters from large pharmaceutical firms (e.g., IMS Health data indicates domestic innovation hubs such as CNPC, CSPC).
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The patent OFFICE databases highlight a proliferation of similar patents in the chemical/medicinal chemistry sector, increasing the need for strategic patent positioning.
D. Implications for Innovators & Competitors
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This patent, by securing a synthesis or compound-specific claim, could serve as a blocking patent for competitors developing similar molecules or synthetic routes.
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Effective enforcement hinges on the scope of claims and the strength of prior art evidences.
IV. Patentability and Innovation Considerations
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The patent's validity depends on demonstrating novelty—not previously disclosed—and inventive step, considering the extensive prior art landscape.
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The claim scope’s reliance on specific reaction conditions and structures indicates an attempt to carve out a patentable niche but may face challenges if similar methods exist.
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Its strategic value enhances as it covers potentially valuable pharmacological intermediates with applications in diverse therapeutic areas like oncology, neurology, or infectious diseases.
V. Future Outlook and R&D Implications
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The patent exemplifies China's ongoing emphasis on chemical and pharmaceutical innovation, aligning with national initiatives to develop novel drugs domestically.
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It invites competitors to design around, possibly by modifying reaction steps or target structures, unless further patents with narrower or protective claims are pursued.
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The scope and strategic positioning underscore the importance of continuous innovation and comprehensive patent portfolios for maintaining market competitiveness.
VI. Key Takeaways**
- CN104136427 advances a specific synthetic pathway and class of heterocyclic compounds with potential pharmaceutical applications.
- Its claims focus on reaction conditions and compound structures, with moderate breadth that may be challenged if similar prior art exists.
- The patent landscape in China for heterocyclic drugs is densely populated, demanding strategic patent filing and portfolio management.
- The patent’s value as a barrier depends on its enforceability and the strength of its inventive step over existing prior art.
- For pharmaceutical firms, this patent highlights the importance of continuous innovation in synthetic methods and structural modifications to secure competitive advantage.
FAQs
1. What is the main innovative aspect of CN104136427?
The patent presents a novel chemical synthesis route for specific heterocyclic compounds, emphasizing reaction efficiency and compound utility in pharmaceuticals.
2. How broad are the claims in this patent?
The method claims are moderately broad, covering certain reaction steps and conditions; the compound claims focus on a specific heterocyclic class with certain substituents.
3. Can this patent be challenged based on prior art?
Yes, given the extensive existing patents on heterocyclic synthesis, its validity will depend on demonstrating that its inventive step is non-obvious over known methods.
4. How does this patent fit into China's pharmaceutical patent landscape?
It represents targeted innovation within China's active heterocyclic patent filings, aiming to secure proprietary synthesis and compound rights in a competitive field.
5. What should innovators consider when designing around this patent?
Modifying reaction conditions, structural substitutions, or targeting different heterocyclic scaffolds could potentially circumvent the patent, emphasizing the need for comprehensive freedom-to-operate analyses.
References
[1] Wipo Patent Landscape Reports, "Heterocyclic Compounds in Pharmaceutical Patents," 2022.
[2] Chinese Patent Office Database, CN104136427A.
[3] European Patent Office, Patent Landscape Reports on Chemical Synthesis, 2021.
