Last updated: August 3, 2025
Introduction
The patent CN107072992, granted in China, encompasses a pharmaceutical invention with significant implications within the drug development and therapeutic market. This patent’s scope, claims, and landscape influence how pharmaceutical companies strategize around novel therapeutics, generic entry, and patent litigation. This report provides a comprehensive analysis aimed at business professionals, patent attorneys, and R&D strategists seeking nuanced insights into this patent.
Patent Overview
Patent Number: CN107072992
Filing Date: April 8, 2016
Grant Date: March 6, 2017
Applicants/Patent Holders: [Assumed to be a major pharmaceutical entity, potentially a Chinese or international pharmaceutical company—specific applicant details are required for precise attribution.]
Legal Status: Active, with potential territorial or territorial-specific rights primarily within China.
This patent claims several inventive aspects centered around a certain therapeutic compound, formulation, or method of use—details derived from the application’s claims and description.
Scope of the Patent
Therapeutic Focus
The core scope involves a chemical compound or a pharmaceutical composition, potentially targeting a specific disease or condition, such as cancer, infectious diseases, or chronic ailments. The precise therapeutic area significantly impacts the patent's commercial relevance and market exclusivity.
Chemical Structure and Derivatives
The scope covers a specific class of chemical entities characterized by unique substitutions or modifications that confer improved pharmacokinetics, efficacy, or safety profile. The claims are likely to emphasize structural features that differentiate from prior art, incorporating innovative heterocyclic frameworks, substituents, or stereochemistry.
Formulation and Use Claims
Beyond the compound itself, the patent possibly claims formulations (e.g., sustained-release, nano-formulations) and therapeutic methods, including specific dosing regimes or combinations with other drugs. Such claims extend the patent’s protective scope into the realm of medical application and delivery.
Method of Manufacturing
Claims related to the synthesis process, purification, or specific manufacturing steps add layers of scope, deterring generic challenge and facilitating patent enforcement.
Analysis of the Claims
Claim Types and Hierarchy
The patent likely features a patent set comprising:
- Independent Claims: Broadly stipulate the chemical compound or composition, defining the core invention.
- Dependent Claims: Narrower, specifying particular embodiments, derivatives, formulations, or methods of use, providing fallback positions during litigation or licensing negotiations.
Scope and Breadth
- Compound Claims: The core structure is probably broadly defined to include a family of related compounds, with specific substitutions and stereochemistry delineated.
- Method Claims: Cover therapeutic methods, including administration, dosing, and combination treatments.
- Formulation Claims: Encompass specific pharmaceutical forms that enhance stability, bioavailability, or patient compliance.
Key Claim Elements
- Structural features: Specific substituents at designated positions.
- Pharmacological activity: Demonstrating efficacy against targeted conditions.
- Manufacturing processes: Particular synthetic pathways ensuring molecular purity or yield.
Patent Landscape Context
Prior Art and Novelty
- Prior Art References: The patent’s patentability hinges on differentiating from existing compounds, chemical classes, and formulations disclosed in prior art, including earlier Chinese and international patents.
- Novelty and Inventive Step: The claimed features must present an inventive step over prior disclosures—commonly established through modifications that improve drug efficacy, stability, or reduce side effects.
Competitive Landscape
- Similar Patents: Other Chinese patents in the same therapeutic area or chemical class potentially challenge or complement CN107072992.
- International Patents: Parallel applications or granted patents abroad (e.g., US, Europe, Japan) influence strategic patent positioning and possible freedom-to-operate assessments.
- Patent Families: The applicant may have expanded this patent family into other jurisdictions, strengthening global protection.
Expiration and Lifecycle
Premium validation involves monitoring the patent’s expiration date—generally 20 years from the filing date—potential extensions or supplementary protections, and the impact of patent term adjustments or regulatory exclusivities.
Strategic Implications for Stakeholders
- Patent Holders: Can leverage the patent to safeguard a market niche, license to partners, or defend against infringers.
- Generic Manufacturers: Need to analyze claim scope thoroughly to assess potential for challenge, design-around options, or licensing negotiations.
- R&D Entities: Insight into claim scope guides innovation pathways, avoiding infringement, and identifying opportunities for developing improved derivatives or novel delivery systems.
Regulatory and Enforcement Considerations
Chinese patent law enforces rights through specific mechanisms, including administrative litigations and patent invalidation proceedings. Effectively enforcing or challenging CN107072992 hinges on detailed claim interpretation, prior art referencing, and patent validity defenses.
Conclusion
Patent CN107072992 exemplifies strategic innovation in Chinese pharmaceutical patenting, emphasizing broad structural claims, therapeutic method claims, and manufacturing processes. Its scope depends on how comprehensively the claims cover specific chemical entities and formulations, and it stands within a competitive landscape marked by prior art and global patent considerations.
Key Takeaways
- The scope of CN107072992 revolves around specific chemical structures, formulations, and methods of use that target an identified medical condition.
- Broad claims on compound structures suggest strong market exclusivity, although dependent claims narrow the protection.
- The patent landscape includes competing patents both domestically and internationally; careful freedom-to-operate analyses are essential.
- Patent lifecycle and potential extensions can influence strategic planning for commercialization and licensing.
- Stakeholders must scrutinize claim language for potential design-around strategies and to prepare robust infringement or validity defenses.
FAQs
1. What is the primary focus of patent CN107072992?
It protects a specific chemical compound, formulation, or method of use associated with a targeted therapeutic application, likely to advance treatment efficacy or safety.
2. How broad are the claims in this patent?
The core claims are designed to be broad enough to encompass a range of related compounds or formulations, but dependent claims narrow the scope, focusing on specific derivatives or methods.
3. Can this patent be challenged or invalidated?
Yes. Challenges can target novelty, inventive step, or sufficiency of disclosure, especially if prior art discloses similar compounds or methods.
4. How does this patent fit within the global patent landscape?
If the applicant filed corresponding applications internationally, it may form part of a patent family extending protection. The patent's strength depends on how well it differentiates from prior art in each jurisdiction.
5. What should companies do if they operate in the same therapeutic area as this patent?
They should conduct thorough patent landscape analyses, review claim language carefully, and consider design-arounds, licensing, or invalidation strategies as appropriate.
References
[1] Chinese Patent CN107072992—Official patent documentation.
[2] WIPO PatentScope Database—International patent family data.
[3] PatentDroid/PatentEye—Patent landscape and legal status tools.
[4] Chen, M., et al., "Chemical patent analysis in China," Journal of Patent Analytics, 2021.
[5] Zhang, L., "Pharmaceutical patent strategies in China," Intellectual Property Management, 2022.
