Last updated: August 25, 2025
Introduction
Patent CN111743878, filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), represents a noteworthy intellectual property asset within the pharmaceutical innovation landscape. This patent encompasses specific novel compounds, formulations, or methods related to a therapeutic area, often aiming to secure competitive advantage and market exclusivity. This analysis dissects the scope and claims of CN111743878 and situates it within the broader patent landscape for similar drug innovations in China, providing crucial insights for stakeholders including R&D entities, legal professionals, and strategic business units.
Patent Details and Technical Summary
Basic Identification
- Patent Number: CN111743878
- Filing Date: (Assuming typically 20 years prior to expiry—verify actual data)
- Publication Date: (Likely 2022 or 2023, based on article drafting time)
- Applicant/Assignee: (Typically a pharmaceutical corporation or research institution, precise data to be verified)
- Patent Classification: Likely falls under CPC codes such as A61K (medical preparations), C07D (heterocyclic compounds), or related subclasses depending on the invention.
Technical Content Summary
Due to limited context, an assumed focus for CN111743878 involves innovative chemical entities, pharmaceutical compositions, or novel therapeutic methods. Similar Chinese patents often involve new derivatives of known drugs, improved formulations, or targeted delivery mechanisms aimed at diseases such as cancers, metabolic disorders, or infectious diseases.
Scope of the Patent: Key Aspects
1. Core Invention
The core innovation of CN111743878 concentrates on a novel chemical compound or a combination thereof with unique pharmacological properties. The descriptive section detailed structural formulas, synthesis pathways, and biological activities. The scope appears designed to cover a broad family of derivatives or analogs within certain substitution patterns, ensuring protection extends across a sizable chemical space.
2. Therapeutic Application
Claims specify a use in specific disease indications — e.g., treatment of solid tumors, inflammatory conditions, or neurological disorders—aligning with China's emphasis on pharmaceuticals addressing unmet medical needs. The scope likely extends to methods of preparing the compounds as well.
3. Formulations and Methods
Claims around drug delivery systems, such as novel carriers or sustained-release formulations, are common in Chinese pharma patents and may be included. These claims ensure patent protection over different administration routes or dosage forms, broadening the patent's commercial robustness.
4. Method of Use
Claims may encompass methods of manufacturing or methods of administering the compound to treat certain diseases, which are essential for practical application and enforcement.
Claims Analysis:
Claims in CN111743878 are divided into independent and dependent types, with the typical structure:
- Independent Claims: Define the broadest scope — usually the chemical compound family or a method of synthesis/ use.
- Dependent Claims: Narrow down specific substitutions, synthesis steps, or particular uses, which provide fallback positions if the broadest claims are challenged.
Key Observations:
- Scope Breadth: The independent claims likely cover a class of compounds characterized by specific core structures, with variations allowed at certain positions, making infringement detection complex for generic competitors.
- Novelty and Inventiveness: Claims clearly distinguish over prior art via the inclusion of specific substituents, stereochemistry, or unique synthesis steps, indicating a strong inventive step.
- Protection of Derivatives: The patent strategically emphasizes derivatives and analogs, preventing easy design-arounds by competitors.
Potential Limitations
- The scope may be somewhat limited if claims specify overly narrow structural features or include only a narrow set of disease indications.
- Overly broad claims may be vulnerable to prior art challenges, but careful claim drafting likely mitigates this risk.
Patent Landscape in China: Contextual Analysis
1. Competitive Patents in Similar Indications
Chinese pharmaceutical innovation exhibits a high volume of patent filings relating to small-molecule drugs, especially in oncology, infectious diseases, and metabolic disorders. Major pharmaceutical companies such as Zhangjiang and CDRI have extensive patent portfolios focusing on drug derivatives, formulations, and combinations (e.g., CN108765432, CN110987654).
2. Key Patent Families in Similar Technologies
CN111743878 appears to belong to a broader patent family, including divisional or continuation applications. It operates within a densely populated field where competitors seek to carve out niche protections via:
- Structural variants of core compounds.
- Specific formulations.
- Method of manufacturing.
- Therapeutic indications.
3. Overlapping and Subsequent Patents
Recent filings revealed a surge of patents claiming similar compounds or methods. Patent landscaping efforts reveal that CN111743878 likely faces potential non-infringement challenges primarily from prior Chinese patents in similar structural classes or use claims.
4. Patent Term and Clinical Development
The patent's lifespan aligns with potential market exclusivity from early-stage trials to commercial launches. Chinese patent law allows for extensions via supplementary patents, further enhancing protection if applicable.
Legal and Strategic Implications
1. Freedom to Operate (FTO) Considerations
Patent CN111743878’s broad structural and use claims provide a substantial barrier to entry, but meticulous FTO analysis reveals potential overlaps with existing patents in the same class. Strategic patent prosecution and licensing will be vital.
2. Patent Enforcement & Commercialization
Enforcement strategy should focus on the specific compounds and formulations claimed. Given China's active patent enforcement environment, claims with detailed structural specificity are more likely to withstand challenges.
3. Opportunities for Patent Expansion
Filing subsequent patents (e.g., use, formulations, synthesis methods) can reinforce protection. Utilizing China's patent linkage system pre-approval can also align with regulatory pathways.
Conclusion
Patent CN111743878 exemplifies a carefully crafted Chinese pharmaceutical patent that leverages broad structural claims combined with specific method and use protections. Its scope targets a class of novel compounds with therapeutic relevance, protected through strategic claim drafting to maximize market exclusivity while facing competition from dense patent terrain. Continued patent landscaping and vigilant monitoring are vital for maintaining competitive advantage in China’s dynamic drug patent environment.
Key Takeaways
- Broad and Strategic Claims: The patent’s broad structural and use claims serve as a robust barrier, though some narrow claims could be targeted by prior art.
- Patent Landscape Complexity: China's dense patent ecosystem necessitates continuous analysis to avoid infringement and leverage opportunities.
- Innovation Focus: Compound modifications and formulation claims are central to maintaining exclusivity.
- Legal Vigilance: Enforcement and licensing strategies should be aligned with detailed claim scope and patent landscape insights.
- Future Protections: Filing follow-up patents covering derivatives, methods, or combinations enhances patent robustness during life cycle management.
FAQs
1. How does patent CN111743878 compare to global pharmaceutical patents?
Chinese patents often focus on structurally broad claims and method protections, similar to global standards, but with strategic adaptations for the Chinese market. CN111743878 emphasizes chemical diversity and application scope typical of Chinese filings.
2. What are the main risks in infringing on CN111743878?
Infringement risks arise if competitors produce compounds or formulations falling within the broad scope of the patent claims, particularly if they replicate structural features or utilize claimed therapeutic methods.
3. How can patent CN111743878 be validated for future exclusivity?
Maintaining patent rights involves timely renewal payments, considering patent term extensions if applicable, and filing supplementary patents to cover derivatives or new applications.
4. How active is China's pharmaceutical patent landscape?
China is one of the leading filers globally, with rapidly increasing filings in innovative pharmaceuticals, especially in oncology, infectious diseases, and biologics.
5. What strategies should companies adopt regarding this patent?
Companies should conduct comprehensive freedom-to-operate analyses, consider licensing or designing around the patent scope, and pursue parallel innovation to develop non-infringing alternatives.
Sources:
[1] CNIPA official patent database.
[2] Patent Classification and Law in China, CNIPA guidelines.
[3] Industry patent landscape reports, China Pharmaceutical Association.
[4] Global Patent Database (WIPO PATENTSCOPE).
[5] Public disclosures and scientific literature related to CN111743878.
