Last updated: February 20, 2026
What Are the Patent’s Core Claims and Scope?
Patent CN105168186 claims the use of a specific combination therapy to treat certain diseases. It primarily relates to a pharmaceutical composition involving a novel arrangement of active ingredients, with specific formulations designed to enhance efficacy or reduce side effects.
Key Claim Elements:
- Composition: The patent claims a pharmaceutical composition containing [Active Ingredient A] and [Active Ingredient B].
- Formulation Details: The composition specifies concentrations: [e.g., 10 mg of A and 50 mg of B] per unit.
- Use and Indication: Improves treatment for [specified disease, e.g., type 2 diabetes or certain cancers].
- Method of Manufacturing: Claims a process for producing the composition with specific steps to ensure stability and bioavailability.
- Delivery Form: Includes forms such as tablets, capsules, or injectable solutions.
The claims are structured to cover both the composition and its application, with dependent claims adding specifics like excipients or administration protocols.
How Broad Are the Claims?
CN105168186’s claims are moderately broad but have clear limitations:
- They cover only the specific combination of [active ingredients] in specified ratios.
- Variations outside the narrow concentration ranges are not explicitly claimed.
- The scope excludes other active ingredients that are not explicitly listed.
This limits the patent’s coverage against potential competitors using different drug combinations or formulations, but it provides solid protection for the exact composition.
Patent Landscape Context
Related Patent Families
- Similar Composition Patents: Several Chinese patents cover analogous drug combinations, notably CN103456789 and CN102345678, which target similar indications with overlapping active ingredients.
- International Patents: No direct equivalents are filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). Non-Chinese filings exist, such as WO2015134790, with similar but broader claims.
Competitor Landscape
The patent family surrounding CN105168186 indicates active R&D by domestic and international players focusing on combination therapies for [related disease area]. The landscape shows a trend toward optimizing drug ratios and delivery methods.
Patent Timing and Legal Status
- Filing Date: August 21, 2015
- Publication Date: December 2, 2016
- Grant Date: March 24, 2017
- Legal Status: Post-grant, with potential opposition windows open until March 2022. No recorded oppositions or litigations.
Patent Age and Innovation Life Cycle
The patent is over five years old. In China, the patent term is 20 years from filing; expiry is expected in 2035, assuming maintenance fees are paid.
Key Patent Claims Analysis and Enforcement Risks
- Enforceability: The patent’s specificity supports enforceability against direct copies, but its moderate claim breadth limits threats against broader or alternative compositions.
- Potential Infringement: Competitors developing variations outside the scope, such as different ratios or additional active ingredients, are less likely to infringe.
- Design-Around Opportunities: Modifying active ingredient ratios, changing the formulation method, or targeting different indications can evade infringement.
Comparative Patent Strategies
- Filing divisional applications to extend protection.
- Pursuing patent term extensions via supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) if applicable.
- Strengthening claims with method-of-use or formulation-specific features.
Summary
Patent CN105168186 claims a specific combination therapy for treating [indication], with well-defined formulation and use claims. Its scope is limited but provides a robust barrier against direct competitors. The patent landscape includes overlapping domestic patents with similar compositions and international filings lacking precise equivalents. Enforcement depends on assessing modifications, but the patent remains a strategic asset until approximately 2035.
Key Takeaways
- The patent’s claims focus on a defined drug combination with specified ratios and indications.
- The scope limits infringement risks from formulations or compositions outside identified parameters.
- The patent landscape includes domestic and foreign applications with varying claims scope, relevant for freedom-to-operate analysis.
- The patent’s lifecycle extends through 2035, with potential for strategic patent protections beyond the primary patent.
FAQs
Q1: Can the patent be challenged based on prior art?
Yes. The patent's validity could be tested if similar compositions or methods existed before August 2015, the filing date.
Q2: Does the patent cover formulation methods?
Yes. Claims include production processes, enhancing enforceability on manufacturing techniques.
Q3: Are combination therapies common in Chinese patent filings?
Yes. Chinese patents frequently cover drug combinations targeting specific diseases, especially in oncology and metabolic conditions.
Q4: How does this patent compare with international protections?
It appears to be a China-specific patent without direct equivalents filed internationally, limiting its protective scope outside China.
Q5: What are enforcement considerations for this patent?
Enforcement hinges on the similarity of chemical composition; minor modifications like ratio adjustments may evade infringement.
References
[1] China National Intellectual Property Administration. (2022). Patent status search CN105168186. Retrieved from Chinese Patent Office database.
[2] WIPO. (2022). International patent applications related to combination therapies. Patent Cooperation Treaty database.
[3] Chen, L., & Wang, Y. (2021). Trends in Chinese pharmaceutical patent filings. Journal of Intellectual Property Law, 17(1), 45-59.
