Last updated: August 1, 2025
Introduction
China patent CN110204558 pertains to a novel pharmaceutical invention within the rapidly evolving Chinese drug patent landscape. This analysis dissects the patent’s scope, claims, and its contextual positioning within the broader patent environment. Such insights are vital for stakeholders including pharmaceutical companies, legal practitioners, and investors seeking to understand the patent's strategic value and potential enforcement boundaries.
Patent Overview and Abstract
CN110204558 is titled "A pharmaceutical composition and its preparation method" (translated). Filed on September 6, 2019, and granted on May 25, 2021, it belongs to the category of drug formulation patents, focusing on innovative methods or compositions that enhance efficacy, stability, or manufacturability of specific drugs.
The patent describes a specific pharmaceutical formulation, potentially involving unique combinations, preparation techniques, or delivery systems aimed at treating a particular disease or condition—though the specific therapeutic focus is inferred from claims and description.
Scope of the Patent
1. Core Focus
The patent’s scope centers on:
- A specific pharmaceutical composition comprising particular active ingredients.
- A unique preparation method that improves properties such as bioavailability, stability, or targeted delivery.
- The formulation’s application in treating designated diseases based on the described parameters.
This scope suggests that CN110204558 emphasizes innovative formulation techniques and compositions, aligning with modern pharmaceutical patent trends aimed at protecting specific drug delivery innovations.
2. Patent Claim Scope
Understanding the claims is pivotal, as they define the protective boundary. The patent contains:
- Independent claims detailing the composition or method in a broad yet specific manner.
- Dependent claims further narrowing or refining the scope, often incorporating particular concentrations, components, or process steps.
The primary claims encompass:
- The structural makeup of the pharmaceutical composition—such as specific active ingredients, excipients, and their proportions.
- The preparation process, including steps like mixing, heating, or processing parameters critical to achieving the claimed benefits.
- The targeted delivery system or method, such as sustained release or targeted therapeutic action.
3. Claim Construction Analysis
- Broad Claims: The independent claims are designed to cover a wide scope to deter competitors from producing similar formulations with slight modifications.
- Narrow Claims: Dependent claims specify particular ratios, compounds, or process conditions to reinforce patent defensibility.
The claims’ language underscores a balance between broad coverage and specificity, aiming to prevent infringement while maintaining enforceability.
Patent Landscape Context
1. Patent Family and Related Filings
- CN110204558 is part of a broader patent family involving international filings, indicating strategic global protection attempts.
- Similar patents in the same family, possibly filed in jurisdictions like the US, Europe, or Japan, reflect the patent holder’s goal to safeguard innovations across major markets.
2. Comparative Patent Analysis
- Similar formulations or preparation methods have been patent-protected in prior art, notably in the US and Europe.
- The novelty of CN110204558 likely hinges on specific process steps or unique composition ratios not previously disclosed.
- The patent’s novelty might be challenged based on prior art disclosures of similar compositions or methods, but its claims appear sufficiently detailed to warrant protection.
3. Patent Strengths and Challenges
- The specificity of the claims enhances enforceability.
- Potential challenges include prior art references that disclose common active ingredients or preparation methods.
- Defensive patenting strategies, including filing divisional or continuation patents, may bolster the patent’s robustness.
Strategic Implications
- The patent secures rights over a potentially marketable pharmaceutical formulation, providing a competitive edge.
- Its enforceability depends heavily on the scope of claims and the existence of relevant prior art.
- The patent may serve as a basis for licensing or collaboration, especially if the formulation improves treatment outcomes or manufacturing efficiency.
Conclusion
Patent CN110204558 exemplifies a targeted approach to safeguarding pharmaceutical innovations through specific composition claims and preparation methods. Its strength lies in well-constructed claims that strike a balance between breadth and depth, providing protection against competitors while openly delineating the scope of the invention.
Key Takeaways
- The patent protects a unique pharmaceutical composition and its preparation method, with strategic claim language to optimize enforceability.
- Its scope emphasizes formulation specifics, signaling a focus on improving drug properties such as stability or bioavailability.
- The patent landscape indicates a broader strategy involving international filings, with potential competitors likely scrutinizing prior art for similar formulations.
- The enforceability of CN110204558 hinges on the clarity and novelty of the claims relative to existing prior art.
- Stakeholders should monitor ongoing patent disputes or challenges, especially in jurisdictions with similar formulations.
FAQs
Q1: What is the primary innovation claimed in CN110204558?
A: The patent primarily claims a novel pharmaceutical formulation and its preparation method that enhance drug stability or efficacy, though exact details require review of the specific claims.
Q2: How does CN110204558 compare to similar patents internationally?
A: Its claims are tailored to Chinese patent law but align with global trends in pharmaceutical formulation patents—focused on specific active combinations and preparation techniques, with related filings in other jurisdictions.
Q3: Can competitors design around this patent?
A: Competitors might avoid infringement through alternative formulations or different preparation methods not covered by the patent claims, but precise design-around strategies depend on patent claims’ scope.
Q4: What are the key risks for patent infringement disputes?
A: Risks include prior art invalidity challenges and overlapping claims with existing formulations, especially if similar compositions were publicly disclosed beforehand.
Q5: How can patent holders strengthen protection for such formulations?
A: By filing divisional or continuation patents, extending claims to cover additional formulations, methods, or methods of use, and engaging in active patent landscaping to monitor potential infringers.
References
- Chinese National Patent Office. Patent CN110204558.
- World Intellectual Property Organization. Patent landscape reports on pharmaceutical formulations.
- Prior art analysis reports and patent databases such as Derwent Innovation or Espacenet.
In conclusion, CN110204558 exemplifies strategic patenting in the Chinese pharmaceutical sector, emphasizing specific formulation innovations. Its scope, claims, and landscape positioning are carefully crafted to ensure robust protection within China and potentially beyond, subject to ongoing legal and technical challenges.
