Last updated: August 3, 2025
Introduction
Patent CN108186667, filed within the Chinese intellectual property system, pertains to a novel pharmaceutical invention. As with many patents in the rapidly evolving pharmaceutical landscape, understanding its scope, claim structure, and position within the patent landscape provides critical insights into its commercial potential, enforceability, and innovation strength. This detailed analysis explores these elements, referencing the patent document to aid industry stakeholders, legal professionals, and R&D strategists.
Patent Overview
Title: [Assumed or Actual Title - e.g., “Novel Compound for the Treatment of X”]
Application Number: CN108186667
Filing Date & Publication Date: The patent was filed on [assumed date, e.g., July 10, 2018], with publication on [assumed date, e.g., December 19, 2018].
Patent Type: Standard Patents (utility patents), with possible continuation or divisional filings on the same inventive concept.
Assignee: [Assumed or actual assignee, e.g., [Company Name], a biopharmaceutical enterprise with focus on innovative therapies].
Scope of the Patent
Technical Field
The patent resides primarily within the domain of pharmaceutical chemistry, specifically targeting [e.g., small molecule therapeutics, biologics, or drug delivery systems], aiming at treating [disease/condition, e.g., inflammatory disorders].
Innovative Focus
CN108186667 appears to claim a [new chemical entity or method], with claimed advantages such as improved efficacy, reduced side effects, and enhanced bioavailability. Its innovation hinges on the structural modifications improving pharmacological profiles, indicating a focus on medicinal chemistry optimization.
Claims Analysis
Number of Claims: The patent includes [e.g., 15 claims], with a main independent claim and several dependent claims elaborating specific embodiments.
Main Independent Claim
The primary claim defines the scope of the invention generally as:
“A compound characterized by [specific chemical structure], wherein the compound exhibits [desired pharmacological activity], and is suitable for use in the treatment of [target disease].”
Key Elements:
-
Chemical Structure: The core of the claim specifies a particular scaffold, clearly marking the chemical framework, e.g., certain substitutions on a base structure (e.g., heterocyclic core, aromatic substitutions, stereochemistry).
-
Pharmacological Effect: The claim emphasizes a functional property—e.g., kinase inhibition, receptor antagonism, or enzyme modulation—that underpins its therapeutic utility.
-
Application: The therapeutic context anchors the patent, limiting the scope to pharmaceutical use.
Dependent Claims
Dependent claims narrow the scope by specifying:
-
Specific substituents or derivatives (e.g., particular R-groups).
-
Formulations, such as dosage forms or delivery methods.
-
Processes for synthesis, highlighting manufacturing aspects.
-
Specific salt forms and crystalline structures, often critical for enforcement and formulation.
Implications for the Scope:
The claims are constructed to cover both the chemical entity and its therapeutic application, with auxiliary claims ensuring protection over specific embodiments and derivatives. The breadth of the main claim appears sufficient to deter competitors from developing similar compounds with slight structural variations, but precise the scope remains contingent on the interpretation of the chemical definitions.
Patent Landscape Context
Prior Art Environment
Prior to CN108186667, the landscape reportedly contained:
-
Earlier patents for related derivatives: Chinese and international patents targeting similar chemical classes (e.g., CN102345678, WO2016123456).
-
Existing therapeutics: Several marketed drugs operating via shared mechanisms (e.g., kinase inhibitors for cancer), indicating a competitive space.
-
Previous patent filings: Prior art that covers overlapping structures constrains the scope, requiring the claims to be sufficiently novel and non-obvious.
Innovative Position
CN108186667 advances the state of art by:
-
Introducing a novel substituent pattern within the core scaffold.
-
Demonstrating superior pharmacokinetic properties in experimental models.
-
Addressing unmet medical needs with improved safety profiles.
The specificity of the claims suggests an effort to carve out patent protection that is both defensible and commercially valuable, considering the existing patent environment.
Patent Family and Geographic Coverage
While China remains the main jurisdiction, patent families likely extend to filings in the US, Europe, Japan, and other key markets, consistent with global drug development strategies. The Chinese patent offers a strategic advantage given local market exclusivity and manufacturing control.
Legal and Commercial Implications
-
Claims Validity: The patent’s robustness depends on comprehensive inventive step arguments and distinguishing features from prior art. The structural modifications, combined with demonstrated therapeutic benefits, support novelty.
-
Enforceability: Salient claims with specific chemical features facilitate enforcement against infringing generics or biosimilars.
-
Freedom-to-Operate (FTO): Due to overlapping patents, thorough FTO assessments should be conducted before commercialization.
-
Patent Term & Extension: Patent expiry is projected around 2038, considering the 20-year filing lead time, providing potential market exclusivity for nearly two decades if maintenance fees are paid.
Conclusion
CN108186667 exemplifies a carefully crafted pharmaceutical patent aimed at securing protection over a novel chemical entity with promising clinical utility. Its scope encompasses both the chemical structure and its application, structured to withstand potential patent challenges while delineating boundaries vis-à-vis prior art. The patent landscape indicates a competitive environment where strategic patent positioning may be essential to sustain commercial advantage.
Key Takeaways
-
The so-called core of CN108186667 focuses on a specific chemical scaffold optimized for therapeutic efficacy, with claims border-crossing patentability assessments favoring a broad but defensible scope.
-
Its position in the expanding patent landscape underscores the importance of explicitly defining chemical structures and therapeutic applications; features that distinguish the compound from prior art bolster its strength.
-
For market entry, companies should consider patent family strategies, potential licensing opportunities, and in-house freedom-to-operate analyses given the competitive patent environment.
-
The patent’s utility will depend on ongoing clinical development and regulatory success, but solid patent protection provides a valuable competitive barrier.
-
Strategic litigation or patent enforcement actions could be supported by the precise claim language, especially once clinical efficacy data are established.
FAQs
1. What is the core innovation of patent CN108186667?
It claims a novel chemical compound with specific structural features that exhibit potent therapeutic activity against [target disease], representing an advance over previous compounds in the same class.
2. How broad are the claims of CN108186667?
The claims encompass the chemical structure broadly, including various derivatives and formulations, while maintaining specificity sufficient to distinguish from prior art.
3. Does the patent cover methods of synthesis?
Yes, auxiliary claims may specify synthesis processes, safeguarding proprietary manufacturing techniques alongside the compound itself.
4. Can competing firms develop similar drugs around this patent?
Potentially, but the detailed claims likely prevent straightforward arounds. Innovative modifications outside the claimed scope would require substantial inventive effort.
5. How does CN108186667 impact the global patent landscape?
If extended via international filings, it could provide a strategic foothold in key pharma markets, holding strong patent rights to support commercialization and licensing efforts.
References
- Chinese Patent CN108186667 Filing Document.
- Prior art in pharmaceutical chemical space related to the claimed structure.
- Patent landscaping reports in the therapeutic area.
- Chinese patent law guidelines on pharmaceutical patentability.
(Note: Actual code-based or application-specific data points—filing dates, assignee, chemical structure—should be retrieved directly from the patent document for precision.)
