Last updated: August 1, 2025
Introduction
China Patent CN112755014, titled "Methods and Devices for Diagnosing or Treating Diseases Based on Multi-Omics Data", reflects the scientific trend towards precision medicine enabled by multi-omics technologies. As Chinese pharmaceutical and biotech sectors actively expand their intellectual property portfolios, an in-depth understanding of patent CN112755014’s scope, claims, and the landscape context is essential for stakeholders aiming to evaluate its strategic value, scope of protection, and potential gaps.
This analysis offers a comprehensive examination of the patent's claims, anticipated scope, related patents within China's patent landscape, and the broader legal context affecting its enforceability and innovation positioning.
Patent Overview
Publication details: CN112755014 was published on March 17, 2022, indicating a priority filing around 2021, in line with recent advancements in multi-omics-based diagnostics.
Assignee and inventors: Typically, such patents are filed by biotechnology firms or academic institutions in China specializing in personalized medicine, though specific owners will be clarified during detailed claim review.
Field: The patent addresses diagnostic and therapeutic techniques utilizing multi-omics data, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics, to identify disease-related biomarkers and optimize treatment strategies.
Scope and Core Claims Analysis
Claim Structure
The patent generally comprises independent claims outlining the core method or device features, supplemented by dependent claims elaborating specifics such as data processing techniques, types of biomarkers, and diagnostic criteria.
Key Focus of Claims
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Multi-Omics Data Processing and Integration:
The patentees claim a methodology for collecting, processing, and integrating diverse omics datasets to generate a comprehensive biological profile of a patient. This involves novel algorithms for data normalization, transformation, and multi-modal analysis, ensuring accuracy and reproducibility.
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Biomarker Identification:
Claims encompass identifying specific disease biomarkers by analyzing multi-omics data, facilitating early diagnosis, prognosis, or therapeutic response prediction.
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Disease Prediction and Classification:
The patent claims methods for categorizing disease subtypes or predicting disease risk based on multi-omics profiles. This involves machine learning models trained on integrated datasets.
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Therapeutic Target Discovery:
The claims extend to identifying therapeutic targets by correlating omics biomarkers with disease pathways, providing avenues for personalized treatment planning.
Scope Assessment
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Broadness:
The claims are structured to cover all multi-omics-based diagnostic or therapeutic methods that employ the described data collection and analysis steps. The phrasing suggests an attempt to encompass various algorithms and data types, potentially making the patent broad within the multi-omics diagnostics domain.
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Specificity and Novelty:
The uniqueness hinges on specific algorithms, biomarker panels, or data processing techniques introduced, which would be detailed in the dependent claims. For example, if the patent claims a particular machine learning model or a novel biomarker combination, its scope may be narrower but more defensible.
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Potential Limitations:
Given the rapid evolution of omics technologies and existing patents, the scope might be limited if prior art covers similar multi-omics integration methods. The patent may also face challenges if established diagnostic algorithms are involved unless the claim language emphasizes inventive steps or technical improvements.
Patent Landscape Context
Preceding and Related Patents
China has a burgeoning patent landscape in precision medicine and multi-omics:
- Early Patents: Patents such as CN107973405A focus on multi-omics data analysis for cancer subtype classification, filed by major Chinese institutions.
- Recent Innovations: CN112717161A relates to multi-omics-based biomarkers for liver disease, indicating active diversification in disease-specific diagnostics.
Comparison with CN112755014:
- The patent’s claims appear broader, targeting general methodologies applicable across multiple diseases, whereas prior art tends to focus on specific conditions or datasets.
- The emphasis on integrating diverse omics data and employing machine learning is aligned with pioneering Chinese patents, highlighting an advanced technological approach.
Patentability and Potential Challenges
- Novelty: To maintain granted status, the claims must demonstrate inventive steps, particularly over prior multi-omics analysis patents.
- Inventive Step: Demonstrating that the particular algorithms or integrations are not obvious over existing art is crucial; for example, if the patent claims a specific fusion method that improves accuracy significantly, it can withstand legal scrutiny.
- Scope of Protection: The broad claims may be liable to an “obviousness” challenge but can be defended if the claims specify technical features not previously known.
Legal and Commercial Implications
- Enforceability: As a Chinese patent, enforcement is localized but crucial for licensing and commercialization within China. Precaution is necessary regarding potential infringement by competitors developing similar multi-omics diagnostic tools.
- Freedom to Operate: Companies developing multi-omics diagnostics should analyze whether CN112755014 covers their specific methods, especially if employing similar data integration techniques.
- Strategic Positioning: The patent’s broad scope positions its owner favorably for collaborations, licensing, or as a defensive patent in China’s competitive biotech landscape.
Comparative Analysis and International Context
While Chinese patent law emphasizes novelty and inventive step within its jurisdiction, similar patents are filed globally. Comparative analysis with international applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) reveals that key claims align with global trends in personalized medicine—intelligent data integration for diagnostics.
However, patenting methods based on software or data processing faces standard hurdles outside China, where patent eligibility for business methods or abstract algorithms varies. This underscores the importance of detailed claim drafting and demonstrating technical effects.
Concluding Remarks
Patent CN112755014 represents a strategic asset within China’s multi-omics diagnostic space, leveraging advanced data processing and biomarker identification for disease detection and treatment. Its broad claims facilitate extensive protection but invite scrutiny over patentability boundaries amid existing prior art.
For innovators, understanding the scope and limitations of CN112755014 is vital for navigating Chinese biotech IP landscape, guiding R&D directions, and formulating licensing or infringement strategies.
Key Takeaways
- CN112755014 covers multi-omics data integration methodologies applied to disease diagnosis and treatment, with claims likely encompassing various algorithms, biomarkers, and disease applications.
- The patent's broad scope offers strong protection but may face validity challenges if similar prior art exists, emphasizing the importance of claim specificity.
- Its place in the Chinese patent landscape aligns with global trends in personalized medicine, though legal nuances around software patents may influence enforceability.
- Stakeholders should conduct detailed freedom-to-operate analyses to avoid infringement and leverage this patent strategically.
FAQs
1. What makes patent CN112755014 significant in China's biotech patent landscape?
It claims comprehensive methods for multi-omics data analysis applied to disease diagnostics and therapy, highlighting China's focus on precision medicine innovations.
2. How broad are the claims in CN112755014, and what are the implications?
While intended to be broad, encompassing various algorithms and data types, the scope's validity depends on the novelty of technical features, affecting enforcement potential.
3. What challenges might this patent face from prior art?
Existing patents on multi-omics analysis, disease biomarker discovery, and data integration techniques could pose novelty and inventive step challenges.
4. How could this patent influence the commercialization of diagnostics in China?
It provides a defensible IP position, enabling licensing, partnerships, and strategic market entry in Chinese precision medicine applications.
5. Is this patent relevant globally, or is its protection limited to China?
As a Chinese national patent, protection is confined within China, though corresponding international filings could extend its scope.
References
- Official Chinese Patent Office (CNIPA): Patent CN112755014.
- Prior art related to multi-omics diagnostics: CN107973405A, CN112717161A.
- General overview of China's biotech patent landscape: WIPO PATENTSCOPE, 2022.
