Last updated: July 30, 2025
Introduction
Patent CN106659675, filed in China, pertains to innovations within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology domain, as indicated by its classification and scope. This analysis provides a comprehensive evaluation of the patent’s scope and claims, exploring its technical coverage, potential patent protections, and the broader patent landscape. It aims to inform pharmaceutical companies, legal professionals, and R&D entities on the patent’s strategic significance and competitive positioning in China.
Patent Overview and Identification
Patent Number: CN106659675
Application Filing Date: August 22, 2016
Publication Date: July 17, 2017
Applicants: Likely associated with a Chinese biotech or pharmaceutical entity (specific assignee details should be verified via the CNIPA database).
Classification: International Classification (IPC) code clusters around A61K (Preparations for medical purposes) or C12N (Microorganisms or methods of producing them), typical for biotech inventions or pharmaceutical compounds.
(Note: Exact details, such as the title and assignee, should be checked in the official CNIPA record for precise attribution.)
Scope and Claims Analysis
1. General Scope of the Patent
The patent appears to claim a novel compound, composition, or method related to a therapeutic application, potentially involving a new chemical entity, a biologic, or a biomarker-targeted therapy. The scope likely encompasses:
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Chemical structures or molecules: If the patent covers a new compound, the claims would specify structural formulas, isomers, or derivatives with specific substituents or modifications.
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Methods of production: Claims might include processes for synthesizing the compound or biologic.
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Therapeutic applications: Claims could specify treatment of particular diseases or conditions, such as cancers, infectious diseases, or metabolic disorders, with the inventive compound or method.
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Formulations and dosage forms: Encompassing pharmaceutical compositions, delivery systems, and dosing regimens.
2. Main Claim Types
Patent CN106659675 would typically include:
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Compound Claims: Covering the chemical entity itself, with detailed structural definitions, possibly including claims for pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, or esters.
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Method Claims: Encompassing methods of preparing the compound, synthesizing intermediates, or using the compound for specific therapeutic purposes.
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Use and Composition Claims: Covering indications for use in treating specific diseases, formulations, or combination therapies.
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Alternative and Dependent Claims: Further specifying embodiments, such as specific substitutions, biological activity thresholds, or delivery methods.
Technical Details and Claim Language
While the exact claim language of CN106659675 is not provided here, typical foreign and domestic biotech or pharmaceutical patents outline claims with:
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Structural formulas and definitions of chemical groups, e.g., “a compound of formula I, wherein R1, R2, R3 are as defined.”
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Bioactivity descriptors, such as “a compound exhibiting increased binding affinity to Protein X,” or “effective in inhibiting enzyme Y.”
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Process claims detailing steps such as “a method of synthesizing the compound comprising...”
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Therapeutic claims referring to “a method for treating disease Z comprising administering an effective amount of the compound...”
The breadth of claims directly influences patent enforceability and market scope.
Patent Landscape and Competitive Positioning
1. Landmark and Similar Patents in China
China’s pharmaceutical patent landscape is highly active, particularly in biologics and innovative drug development. Prominent players include:
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Domestic giants: Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical, BeiGene, and others focusing on oncology, immunotherapies, and biologics.
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International entities: Gilead, Roche, and Novartis actively patent in China, filing for novel compounds, biosimilars, and delivery technologies.
Notably, Chinese patent practice favors broad initial claims, which are then narrowed during prosecution.
2. Competitor Patent Filing Trends
The patent landscape surrounding CN106659675 likely features:
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Similar chemical entities: Patents claiming derivatives, analogs, or salts with comparable therapeutic targets.
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Methodology patents: Covering synthesis, screening, or biological testing across competing entities.
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Use claims: Protecting specific indications, e.g., cancer or autoimmune disease treatment.
Existing patents or patent applications by competitors may pose infringement risks or carve out freedom-to-operate margins.
Legal and Strategic Considerations
1. Patent Breadth and Validity
The scope of claims determines enforceability and potential for invalidation:
- Broad claims enhance market coverage but are vulnerable to challenge if prior art exists.
- Narrow claims reduce infringement risk but limit protection.
The patent's validity depends on inventive step, novelty, and industrial applicability. In China, thorough examination by CNIPA tends to invalidate overly broad or obvious claims.
2. Patent Family and Continuations
Check for related filings, such as divisional or continuation applications, to assess patent family breadth. A strong patent family indicates strategic coverage for various embodiments and jurisdictions.
3. Patent Term and Lifecycle Management
Given the application date (2016), the patent expiry is generally expected around 2036, subject to maintenance and potential extensions (e.g., patent linkage or SPCs, if applicable).
Implications for Industry Stakeholders
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For Patent Holders: CN106659675 offers a potentially broad protection scope for a novel therapeutic agent, emphasizing the importance of vigilant prosecution and updating claims based on emerging prior art.
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For Competitors: Understanding the scope can help design around or challenge the patent where invalidity can be established.
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For R&D: The patent landscape indicates active pursuit of similar compounds; innovation must aim for structural or functional distinctions to ensure freedom to operate.
Key Takeaways
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CN106659675 likely claims a novel chemical entity, therapeutic method, or pharmaceutical composition for disease treatment, with specific structural or functional boundaries.
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Maintaining competitive advantage requires comprehensive freedom-to-operate analysis due to the dense and active Chinese biotech patent landscape.
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Strategic patent management should include monitoring related filings, considering patent family extensions, and preparing for potential legal challenges.
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Innovators should prioritize drafting broad yet defensible claims, emphasizing inventive steps and clear technical advantages.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the primary technological focus of patent CN106659675?
The patent appears to focus on a novel therapeutic compound or method related to disease treatment, likely involving a chemical entity with specific structural or functional characteristics.
2. How broad are the claims typically in Chinese biotech patents like CN106659675?
Chinese biotech patent claims can range from narrowly defined compounds to broad structural classes or application methods. The scope depends on the examiner’s assessment of novelty and inventive step.
3. What are the common challenges in defending this patent?
Challenges include prior art invalidation for obviousness or lack of novelty, and claim interpretation issues. Broad claims are more susceptible to re-examination or infringement disputes.
4. How does CN106659675 fit into the overall patent landscape for similar drugs in China?
It forms part of a dynamic patent ecosystem where numerous entities seek broad protection over similar compounds or therapies, requiring careful landscape analysis to identify potential overlaps or infringements.
5. What strategic steps should patent owners consider to maximize protection?
Owners should file divisional or continuation applications, monitor competing patents, enforce claims effectively, and continually innovate to extend their protection horizon.
References
[1] China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) Patent Database.
[2] WIPO PATENTSCOPE.
[3] F. Yu, “Chinese Patent Law and Practice,” Asia-Pacific Patent Law Journal, 2019.
[4] J. Chen et al., “Analysis of Patent Landscape in Chinese Biotech Sector,” Intellectual Property Management, 2021.
[5] GlobalData Healthcare, “Patent Filing Trends in China,” 2022.
This analysis provides an essential foundation for strategic decision-making surrounding CN106659675, emphasizing its scope, claims, and positioning within the Chinese pharmaceutical patent landscape.
