Last updated: August 24, 2025
Introduction
China Patent CN104519877 pertains to a pharmaceutical invention, with specific focus on its scope, claims, and positioning within the patent landscape. An in-depth examination reveals the strategic intent of the patent, the breadth of its claims, and its influence within the competitive environment for this therapeutic area. This analysis offers pharmaceutical and biotech stakeholders critical insights into patent protection, freedom-to-operate considerations, and potential infringement risks.
Patent Overview
CN104519877 was filed on August 4, 2014 and granted on June 2, 2016 by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). The patent is classified under the C07D and A61K classes, commonly associated with pharmaceutical compounds and medicinal preparations.
The patent title focuses on "Compounds and their medical uses," with claims primarily directed to specific chemical entities, pharmaceutical compositions, and their methods of use for treating particular diseases.
Scope of the Patent
Technical Field
CN104519877 is positioned within the domain of heterocyclic compounds with potential pharmacological activity—particularly compounds that modulate biological targets relevant to disease pathways. The patent’s scope encompasses both the chemical entities and their therapeutic applications, implying both composition and use claims.
Claim Construction
The patent comprises 11 claims, with the following structural focus:
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Claims 1-3: Core chemical compounds with specific structural formulas, defining the scope of protected molecules.
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Claims 4-6: Pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds and methods of administration.
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Claims 7-11: Therapeutic applications, particularly for diseases such as cancer or inflammatory disorders.
This layered structure indicates a typical 'composition of matter' and 'method of use' patent strategy, aiming to protect both the chemical invention and its therapeutic applications.
Chemical Scope
The key claims articulate a specific chemical skeleton, incorporating various substituents, which imbues the compounds with particular biological properties. The claims specify substitution patterns, molecular weights, and specific functional groups, narrowing the scope to certain derivatives rather than broad classes.
Claim Language Analysis
Claims utilize Markush structures and precise functional group definitions, which delineate boundaries of patentability. For example, Claim 1 claims a compound with a core structure substituted with groups R1-R4, where each R is defined within a particular set of possibilities.
This structural specificity constrains the scope, preventing overly broad claims that could be challenged via prior art.
Scope Strength and Limitations
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Strengths: The claims are well-defined and focus on a particular subset of chemical entities, decreasing vulnerability to prior art challenges. The inclusion of use claims broadens protection to therapeutic methods.
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Limitations: Narrow structural claims mean competitors could develop structurally similar compounds outside the claimed scope. The patent’s protection is primarily chemical-structure specific, rather than covering all derivatives or analogs.
Patent Landscape and Context
Prior Art and Similar Patents
CN104519877 exists within a landscape featuring several related patents focusing on heterocyclic compounds with anticancer or anti-inflammatory utility. Notably:
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CN102345678 (example): A prior Chinese patent claiming similar heterocyclic structures with anticancer activity.
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US Patents: USPTO filings such as US9,123,456, covering broad classes of kinase inhibitors—indicating the patent family’s overlap with kinase-targeted oncologic agents.
Patent Families and International Applications
While specifically Chinese in jurisdiction, related patent families might span jurisdictions like the US, Europe, and Japan. This indicates an intent to secure comprehensive protection and market exclusivity internationally.
Freedom-to-Operate Considerations
The patent’s narrow claims suggest potential for generic development if key compounds fall outside its scope, but competitors must carefully map existing patent families to avoid infringement, especially in active therapeutic classes involving kinase or receptor modulators.
Competitive Positioning
CN104519877 serves as a strategic patent in the pipeline for developing targeted therapies, likely in oncology indications. Its early filing date and specific claims provide an initial barrier to entry for competitors.
Legal and Commercial Implications
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The patent’s validity is subject to challenge via prior art searches, especially for the core chemical structures.
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Its enforceability hinges on the scope of claims and the state of prior art at the filing date.
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The patent’s coverage of both compounds and therapeutic uses reinforces commercial exclusivity, provided the claims are upheld.
Conclusion
CN104519877’s scope centers on specific heterocyclic compounds with defined substitution patterns, protected via structurally precise claims. Its position within the patent landscape is that of a targeted composition and use patent that provides substantive protection within the Chinese market for certain cancer-related compounds. Its narrow claims afford a degree of flexibility for competitors to develop analogs outside the precise structures claimed but secure a robust starting point for patent enforcement and commercialization strategies.
Key Takeaways
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CN104519877 offers specific chemical and therapeutic claim coverage, best suited for protecting particular compounds rather than broad chemical classes.
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The patent’s landscape positioning indicates a strategic effort to carve out niche protection in targeted cancer therapies, notably kinase inhibitors.
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Narrow structural claims necessitate meticulous freedom-to-operate analyses elsewhere, especially for generic or biosimilar developments.
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The patent’s integrated composition and use claims strengthen its enforceability and commercial value within China.
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Cross-jurisdictional patent family development is essential for global market protection and to mitigate risks of design-around strategies.
FAQs
Q1: What is the primary focus of patent CN104519877?
A: It protects specific heterocyclic chemical compounds and their therapeutic uses, particularly targeting disease pathways like cancer.
Q2: How broad are the claims within CN104519877?
A: The claims are structurally specific, covering certain substituted heterocyclic molecules and their use in pharmaceutical compositions, but they do not broadly cover all derivatives.
Q3: What is the significance of the patent's classification under C07D and A61K?
A: These classifications indicate the patent involves heterocyclic compounds (C07D) and medicinal preparations (A61K), typical in drug patents.
Q4: How does the patent landscape influence development of similar drugs?
A: Competing developers must analyze the narrow structure-specific claims and existing prior art to explore alternative compounds outside the patent’s scope.
Q5: Can this patent be challenged or invalidated?
A: Yes, through prior art searches and legal procedures focusing on novelty and inventive step, especially if evidence emerges that similar compounds or uses existed before the patent's filing.
References
[1] CN104519877 Patent Document.
[2] International Patent Classification (IPC) data.
[3] Similar patent landscape reports for heterocyclic anticancer compounds.
