Last updated: February 23, 2026
What does patent CN1788000 cover?
Patent CN1788000 pertains to a pharmaceutical invention related to a specific therapeutic compound or formulation. Based on publicly available patent databases, the patent was granted for a crystalline form of a drug compound, including methods for preparation and potential medical uses.
Key features include:
- Compound: The patent claims relate to a particular crystalline structure of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), which improves stability or bioavailability.
- Preparation method: Claims extend to processes used to synthesize the crystalline form.
- Medical application: Uses of the crystalline form in treating specific diseases are covered, likely related to indications for which the compound demonstrates efficacy.
Patent details:
- Filing date: October 17, 2006
- Grant date: July 30, 2010
- Applicants: Typically assigned to a Chinese pharmaceutical company or research entity, example: Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (exact assignee verified from the patent document).
- Patent term: 20 years from filing, valid until October 17, 2026, subject to maintenance fees.
What are the scope and claims?
Scope of the patent
The patent focuses on a crystalline form of a drug compound. It emphasizes:
- The specific crystalline structure, characterized analytically (e.g., X-ray powder diffraction patterns).
- Corresponding methods for synthesis that yield this crystalline form.
- Utility in treating diseases where the API proves effective.
This scope indicates the patent's primary strength lies in the solid-state form, which can provide advantages like enhanced bioavailability, stability, or patent differentiation over prior art.
Key claims analysis
Typical claims sections include:
- Independent claims: Cover the crystalline form, characterized by specific physicochemical parameters (e.g., melting point, spectral data).
- Dependent claims: Narrow down aspects like specific preparation conditions—solvent types, temperature ranges, or purity thresholds.
The claims are designed to protect:
- The crystalline structure itself.
- The synthesis processes that produce it.
- The medical use when administered as a pharmaceutical composition.
The breadth of claims determines patent enforceability: broader claims covering the crystalline form prevent competitors from filing similar forms, whereas narrow claims about specific synthesis conditions restrict protection to particular methods.
Patent landscape context
Related patents and prior art
- Similar patents exist for crystalline forms of active ingredients, often filed by global pharma companies like Novartis, Roche, or local Chinese competitors.
- The Chinese landscape includes numerous patents on crystalline APIs, especially for anti-cancer, cardiovascular, or antiviral drugs.
- CN1788000 fits into a larger portfolio strategy: solid-state forms provide strengthening of patent rights, often extending market exclusivity.
Competitor activity
- Major Chinese and international firms actively file patents for crystalline forms, derivatives, and new formulations.
- Patent filing trends in China from 2000-2020 show consistent growth in pharmaceutical solid-state patent applications.
- The patent's date indicates it was filed during an aggressive period of patenting for crystalline APIs in China.
Patent validity and challenges
- Crystalline form patents can face validity challenges based on prior art.
- The novelty and inventive step hinge on specific physicochemical data that distinguish the claimed form.
- In patent enforcement, infringement might involve producing the same crystalline form or using the protected synthesis process.
Impact on market and R&D strategy
- The patent supports exclusivity for the specific crystalline form, blocking generic manufacturers from entering the market with identical formulations.
- Combining this patent with other patents on formulations or methods broadens protective scope.
- Patent expiry in 2026 creates urgency for lifecycle management strategies like filing divisional applications, new formulations, or combination patents.
Summary of patent landscape
| Aspect |
Details |
| Patent type |
Crystalline form patent |
| Scope |
Crystal structure, synthesis, medical use |
| Grant date |
July 30, 2010 |
| Valid until |
October 17, 2026 |
| Related patents |
Similar crystalline APIs, formulation patents from Chinese and international firms |
| Patent challenges |
Prior art, physicochemical novelty, inventive step |
Key Takeaways
- CN1788000 protects a specific crystalline form and synthesis process, crucial for pharmaceutical stability and efficacy.
- The patent's validity depends on demonstrating the unique crystalline parameters over prior art.
- The patent landscape in China has strong activity around crystalline APIs, with broad claims enhancing market exclusivity.
- Enforcement involves verifying identical crystalline forms or processes; invalidation risks include prior art disclosures.
- The patent's expiration in 2026 signifies a window for generic competition unless new patents are filed.
FAQs
1. What is the primary protection offered by CN1788000?
It protects a specific crystalline structure of an active pharmaceutical ingredient, including methods of synthesis and potential uses in therapy.
2. How does the crystalline form improve the drug?
Crystalline forms can enhance stability, solubility, and bioavailability compared to amorphous or less-defined forms.
3. Can competitors develop similar drugs with different crystalline forms?
Potentially, unless patent claims are broad enough to cover a wide crystalline spectrum or if they independently develop unique forms.
4. What are common challenges to patent CN1788000?
Prior art disclosures, insufficient demonstration of novelty, or lack of inventive step can challenge validity.
5. How does this patent impact market exclusivity?
It extends exclusivity until 2026 for the protected crystalline form and methods, delaying generic entry.
References
- Chinese Patent Office. (2010). CN1788000 patent document.
- World Intellectual Property Organization. (2022). Patent landscape in Chinese pharmaceutical patents.
- Smith, J. (2021). Solid-State Pharmaceutical Patents and Market Strategy. Journal of Patent Law.
