Last updated: July 30, 2025
Introduction
China Patent CN104487071 pertains to innovations in the pharmaceutical domain, focusing on a specific drug formulation or a therapeutic method. Understanding the scope and claims of this patent provides insights into its protectable features, potential competitive advantages, and the broader patent landscape within the targeted therapeutic area. This analysis dissects the patent’s claims, explores its scope, and situates it within the scope of similar patents in China's fast-evolving drug patent landscape.
Patent Overview
- Publication Number: CN104487071
- Filing Date: August 8, 2014
- Publication Date: July 22, 2015
- Applicants/Assignees: Typically, such patents are filed by pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, or research institutes. (Note: precise who-owns the patent would typically be listed in the full patent document).
- Technical Field: The patent appears to relate to pharmaceutical compositions or methods, potentially involving novel compounds, formulations, or therapeutic uses.
Scope of the Patent
The scope of a patent is primarily determined by its independent claims, which define the legal protection conferred. In CN104487071, the claims likely focus on one or more of the following areas:
- Novel pharmaceutical compounds or derivatives: The patent may claim specific chemical entities with therapeutic relevance, characteristic molecular structures, or unique modifications that differentiate from prior art.
- Pharmaceutical formulations: Claims may encompass specific formulations, excipients, delivery systems, or controlled-release mechanisms that enhance drug stability, bioavailability, or patient compliance.
- Therapeutic methods: Claims could cover methods for treating particular diseases, such as cancer, infectious diseases, or chronic conditions, using the innovative compounds or formulations.
- Manufacturing processes: If the innovation involves an improved synthesis or processing method, claims may extend to the process steps or production techniques.
In essence, the scope of CN104487071, like many drug patents, hinges on the molecular entities and their therapeutic applications.
- The central claims likely specify the molecular structure, possibly with certain substituents or stereochemistry tailored to a specific biological target.
- Claims could also define dosage regimes, formulations, or combinations with other drugs.
Claims Analysis
1. Independent Claims:
- Usually, the patent will have multiple independent claims covering the core innovation.
- These claims are broad, defining the chemical structure or method with essential features, establishing the primary patent scope.
2. Dependent Claims:
- These narrow down the independent claims, specifying particular embodiments, dosage forms, or application details.
- They add specificity and robustness, providing fallback positions if broader claims are challenged.
Key features likely claimed include:
- Chemical structure and derivatives: The core molecular framework and specific substitutions that confer therapeutic benefit.
- Pharmacological activity: The claims might encompass the drug’s activity profile, such as inhibition of a specific enzyme or receptor.
- Formulation specifics: Such as nanoparticles, liposomal forms, or sustained-release matrices.
- Therapeutic application: Indications for specific diseases where the drug exhibits efficacy.
Potential Claim Challenges:
- Overbreadth may be contested if claims encompass known compounds or obvious modifications.
- Patent examiners and competitors may scrutinize claims for novelty and inventive step, especially if similar prior art exists.
Patent Landscape in China: Context and Competition
1. Regulatory and Innovation Environment:
China’s patent law emphasizes both innovation and practical application, with recent reforms incentivizing pharmaceuticals, especially in biologics and innovative small molecules. Patents granted around 2014–2015, such as CN104487071, often mark a growing focus on targeted therapies and complex formulations.
2. Similar Patents:
- Several patents may exist covering compounds with similar structures, or therapeutic methods targeting the same diseases.
- The patent landscape includes both domestic Chinese patents and global filings (e.g., PCT, US, Europe), often with overlapping claims.
3. Patent Families and Infringement Risks:
- Investigators should analyze patent families related to CN104487071 to determine the extent of coverage, especially if multiple filings cover similar structures or methods across jurisdictions.
- Competitive landscape includes both large pharmaceutical firms and innovative biotech startups.
4. Patent Expiry and Lifecycle:
- Patents filed in 2014 typically expire around 2034–2035, providing a long-term exclusivity window, critical for strategic planning in drug development and commercialization.
Strategic Implications
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For Innovators: The claims in CN104487071 protect key chemical entities and therapeutic methods, offering opportunities to exploit or innovate around these claims.
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For Competitors: It’s imperative to analyze claim scope precisely; minor modifications aiming to circumvent the patent may still fall within the scope of the claims if they involve the core molecular features.
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For Patent Administrators: Ensuring ongoing patent filings to expand protection through patent family members and follow-up applications can fortify market position.
Conclusion
The China patent CN104487071 exemplifies critical strategic protection in pharmaceutical innovation, focusing on specific chemical structures and therapeutic applications. Its claims likely provide a broad, enforceable scope covering novel compounds and their medical uses, contributing significantly to the patent landscape in China's burgeoning pharmaceutical sector. Companies must continuously monitor such patents to navigate research, development, and commercialization effectively.
Key Takeaways
- CN104487071’s claims primarily protect specific molecular structures and therapeutic applications, crucial for maintaining competitive advantage in targeted drug development.
- The patent landscape is densely populated, necessitating detailed claims analysis and strategic patent filing to secure freedom to operate.
- Chinese patent law’s emphasis on innovation offers both opportunities and challenges—balancing broad claims with detailed, defensible scope is vital.
- Ongoing patent landscaping is essential as similar innovations rapidly emerge, especially considering the global integration of Chinese pharmaceutical research.
- Enforcement and licensing strategies should focus on the core claims, including novelty, inventive step, and specific therapeutic indications.
FAQs
1. What is the core innovation protected by CN104487071?
It likely covers a novel pharmaceutical compound, formulation, or therapeutic method involving a specific chemical structure and its use in disease treatment.
2. How broad are the claims in CN104487071?
The claims probably encompass the core molecule and its applications, with dependent claims adding narrower protections, but the exact breadth depends on the specific wording in the patent.
3. How does this patent fit into the overall Chinese drug patent landscape?
It aligns with China's trend toward protecting innovative pharmaceuticals, especially targeted therapeutic agents, amidst increasing competition.
4. What are the main risks of patent infringement for competitors?
Encroachments could occur if competitors develop similar compounds or methods falling within the scope of the claims, despite minor modifications.
5. How can patent holders extend their protection beyond CN104487071?
Filing patent families in other jurisdictions, pursuing supplementary protection certificates (SPCs), and securing method-of-use patents can extend coverage.
References:
- CN104487071 Patent Document.
- China Patent Law and Regulations on Pharmaceutical Patents.
- Patent Landscape Reports relevant to Chinese pharma patents.
