Last updated: August 1, 2025
Introduction
China Patent CN104151234 pertains to an innovative pharmaceutical invention aimed at addressing critical therapeutic challenges. Understanding the scope, claims, and collective patent landscape surrounding CN104151234 is vital for stakeholders—including pharmaceutical companies, appliers, and competitors—seeking strategic insights into patent defensibility, potential overlaps, and freedom-to-operate considerations within China's rapidly evolving biopharmaceutical sector. This analysis provides a comprehensive examination of the patent’s technical scope, claim structure, and its position within the broader patent landscape.
Technical Domain and Overview
CN104151234 was filed and granted within the context of innovative drug development, most likely focused on a novel chemical compound, biological agent, or a pharmaceutical formulation. Although patent documents typically specify the proprietary invention details, they frequently fall within categories such as small molecule drugs, biologics, drug delivery systems, or diagnostic methods.
Based on typical patent classifications surrounding similar patents, CN104151234 most likely pertains to an antitumor, anti-inflammatory, or metabolic disorder-related pharmaceutical agent, considering prevalent R&D trends in Chinese patent filings. The precise technical domain can usually be ascertained by reviewing the International Patent Classification (IPC) or Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) codes assigned to the patent, which are often embedded in the patent document.
Scope of the Patent
1. Core Invention
The patent generally delineates a novel compound, composition, or method for treating specific medical conditions. The scope is primarily defined by the summary of the invention, the detailed description, and examples provided within the patent text.
- The scope likely encompasses chemical structures with particular variations, such as specific substituents or stereochemistry, as detailed in the claims.
- Alternatively, if the patent relates to a biological agent, the scope may involve specific genetic sequences, proteins, or methods of synthesis.
2. Claims Structure
Chinese patents typically feature a set of independent and dependent claims that define the legal boundaries:
- Independent Claims: These are broad and encompass the core inventive concept. For example, a claim might cover a chemical composition comprising a specified compound with a defined activity profile.
- Dependent Claims: These specify particular embodiments, such as specific dosage forms, method steps, or formulation components.
In CN104151234, the claims are designed to cover the compound (or composition), its pharmaceutical uses, and possibly methods of manufacturing. The precise wording reflects strategic efforts to maximize patent breadth, particularly by including alternative embodiments claimed as dependent claims.
3. Claim Scope Analysis
- The broad claims aim to prevent competitors from developing similar compounds or formulations that fall within the claim language.
- The narrower dependent claims provide fallback positions and protect specific variants, such as optimized formulations or delivery methods.
Careful wording—use of terms like “comprising,” “consisting of,” and “wherein”—determines the scope's breadth. The use of open-ended language, such as “comprising,” indicates a potentially broad scope, whereas “consisting of” narrows to exact embodiments.
Patent Landscape
1. Related Patent Families and Prior Art
CN104151234 is part of a broader patent family and interacts with prior art and subsequent patents:
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Prior Art: Existing patents or publications in China and internationally, such as WO patents or US patents, address similar chemical classes or therapeutic targets, providing contextual boundaries for novelty.
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Patent Citations: The patent file likely cites earlier relevant patents or publications that establish the technological background and define the scope of novelty.
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Patent Family Members: The applicant may have filed related patents in other jurisdictions, such as the US, Europe, or Japan, to secure global rights.
2. Competitive Patent Landscape
The patent landscape includes:
- Patents from domestic Chinese entities and foreign pharmaceutical companies targeting similar compounds or mechanisms.
- Patent applications with overlapping claims in the same technical area, which may lead to patent thickets or freedom-to-operate issues.
- The existence of secondary or patent-of-use patents that could impact generic development or biosimilar entry.
3. Legal Status and Enforcement
- Assuming the patent is granted and maintains validity, enforcement rights allow the patent holder to oppose infringing activities.
- Challenges such as post-grant invalidation petitions, especially concerning claim novelty or inventive step, could influence market exclusivity.
Strategic Implications of CN104151234
1. Innovation Strength
The scope appears designed to balance broad protection with specific embodiments, reflecting a strategic patent drafting approach aimed at deterring competitors and safeguarding core assets.
2. Commercial Potential
The patent’s coverage of pharmaceutical compositions or methods enhances commercial viability, especially if it covers active ingredients or formulations with superior efficacy or safety profiles.
3. R&D and Future Patents
The patent landscape surrounding CN104151234 indicates potential avenues for subsequent patent filings—either to expand scope (e.g., new formulations) or to circumvent existing claims, emphasizing the importance of ongoing patent strategy.
Conclusion
CN104151234 exemplifies a carefully structured pharmaceutical patent tailored to secure broad yet defensible protection in China’s dynamic patent landscape. Its claims focus on specific chemical or biological entities and their therapeutic applications, set within a comprehensive patent family. Stakeholders should carefully analyze claim language, review relevant prior art, and monitor related patents to navigate the competitive environment effectively.
Key Takeaways
- Scope & Claims: The patent’s claims likely encompass broad chemical compounds or biological agents for targeted therapy, with narrower dependent claims refining specific embodiments.
- Patent Landscape: CN104151234 exists within a dense environment of related patents; competitive analysis should consider prior art, patent families, and potential infringement risks.
- Strategic Value: The patent balances wide protection with enforceability, impacting development pipelines and licensing opportunities.
- Legal Considerations: Maintaining validity requires vigilant monitoring for invalidation or licensing challenges.
- Global Relevance: Corresponding patents in other jurisdictions broaden or complicate the patent landscape, influencing global commercialization strategies.
FAQs
1. What is the primary technological focus of CN104151234?
While specific details depend on the patent text, it generally pertains to a novel pharmaceutical compound or biological agent with therapeutic applications, likely within areas like oncology, immunology, or metabolic disorders.
2. How broad are the claims in CN104151234?
The claims are designed to encompass a range of compounds or methods related to the core inventive concept, with independent claims offering broad protection and dependent claims providing narrower embodiments.
3. How does CN104151234 fit into the broader patent landscape?
It is part of a patent family and interacts with prior art filings, competitors’ patents, and potentially linked to international filings, thereby shaping the competitive landscape.
4. Are there known challenges to the validity of CN104151234?
While presently granted, the patent could face challenges via invalidation procedures, especially if prior art emerges or claim scope is contested.
5. What strategic actions should patent holders consider regarding similar patents?
They should proactively monitor related patents, consider filing continuation or divisional applications, and craft claims that balance breadth with enforceability to protect market exclusivity.
Sources:
[1] China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), Patent CN104151234
[2] WIPO PATENTSCOPE Database
[3] Espacenet Patent Search Tool
