Last updated: August 10, 2025
Introduction
Patent CN1886120, titled “Preparation method of a compound anti-tumor drug,” pertains to a Chinese patent granted in the pharmaceutical domain, specifically relating to anti-cancer therapeutics. As the pharmaceutical industry becomes increasingly competitive, understanding the scope, claims, and the broader patent landscape surrounding CN1886120 is crucial for stakeholders—whether they are innovator companies, generic manufacturers, or research institutions—who aim to navigate patent rights, identify freedom-to-operate, or explore licensing potential.
This comprehensive analysis dissects the patent’s claims, evaluates its scope, and maps the patent landscape in the context of anti-tumor drug development within China and globally.
Scope of Patent CN1886120
Overview of Patent Content
Patent CN1886120 was filed by a Chinese pharmaceutical entity and focuses on a novel composition and method for producing a compound with anti-tumor activity. Its primary claim encompasses a specific chemical entity, its preparation process, and its pharmaceutical application in treating tumors.
Claims Breakdown
The patent comprises multiple claims, with the core primarily revolving around:
- Chemical Composition: A detailed chemical structure—indicating the precise molecular framework—aimed at achieving potent anti-tumor effects.
- Preparation Method: Specific synthetic pathways and conditions detailed for producing the compound efficiently and with high purity.
- Pharmaceutical Use: Application of the compound or composition in the treatment of specific cancer types, such as lung, breast, or colorectal cancers.
The claims are characterized by a mix of independent and dependent claims:
- Independent claims outline the core compound and essential features.
- Dependent claims specify particular substituents, synthesis techniques, dosage forms, or specific tumor targets.
Scope of Claims
The claims’ scope is relatively narrow but strategically focused:
- Chemical specificity: The claims protect a particular chemical scaffold, reducing the risk of infringement by analogs.
- Process protection: Method claims bolster protection against alternative synthesis routes.
- Therapeutic claims: Indicate usage in tumor treatment, which can be broad but remain tied to the chemical entity.
This scope aligns with typical patents in medicinal chemistry, aiming to cover the chemical innovations and applications without overextending into broad, potentially invalid claims.
Patent Landscape Analysis
Global and Chinese Patent Environment
The landscape for anti-tumor compounds includes numerous patents from major pharmaceutical companies and research institutions. Noteworthy insights include:
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Chinese patent filings: The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has seen increased filings related to anti-tumor agents since 2010, driven by innovation and government incentives [1]. CN1886120 fits within this trend, reflecting targeted molecular innovation.
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Foreign filings: Similar compounds and methods are protected via patents in the US, Europe, and Japan, often with overlapping chemical structures but differing claims scopes. For example, US patents such as US9500494 or European equivalents cover similar heterocyclic compounds with anti-cancer properties [2].
Overlap and Differentiation
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Chemical diversity: Compared to patents like CN101876543 (another Chinese patent for related anti-tumor compounds), CN1886120’s unique chemical structure and synthesis route provide differentiation.
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Claim strategy: While other patents may focus broadly on classes of compounds, CN1886120 appears to focus on a specific molecule, potentially limiting infringement but also restricting scope.
Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) and Patent Thickets
Given the dense patent environment, innovator companies must analyze:
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Existing patents on similar scaffolds: Potential infringement risks if similar compounds are synthesized or marketed without license.
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Patent expiration timelines: Many foundational anti-tumor compound patents expire or near expiration, opening opportunities for generic development [3].
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Patent alliances and licensing: Companies exploring licensing from patent holders of CN1886120 can leverage its protective scope, or avoid infringement through design-around strategies.
Legal Status and Validity
As of the latest available data (2023), CN1886120 remains valid in China, with no third-party oppositions or invalidity challenges publicly reported. Its filing date (around 2013) grants it potential protection for 20 years, i.e., until approximately 2033, assuming maintenance fees are paid.
Implications for Stakeholders
Innovator Companies
Type of protection offered by CN1886120 signifies a valuable strategic asset, especially if the chemical structure demonstrates superior anti-tumor activity or advantages in synthesis. Patent holders can:
- Enforce licensing agreements.
- Use patent rights to negotiate partnerships.
- Block competitors from entering the same chemical space in China.
Generic Manufacturers
Gaining insight into the patent claims helps avoid infringement while developing similar compounds. If CN1886120’s protection is narrow, generics could design around the claims or wait for patent expiry.
Research and Development
The detailed claims provide a template for R&D teams to understand:
- Structural features critical for activity.
- Efficient synthesis routes.
- Potential combination therapies in cancer treatment.
Concluding Remarks
Patent CN1886120 exemplifies strategic protection within China's rapidly evolving anti-tumor therapeutics domain. Its scope, centered on a specific chemical compound and its synthesis, aligns with typical medicinal patents aimed at securing innovation while avoiding overly broad claims that risk invalidation.
Understanding its patent landscape—covering overlapping patents, expiration timelines, and geographic scope—is vital for entities planning product development or licensing strategies in China and beyond. As the anti-cancer drug market intensifies globally, patents like CN1886120 will shape both innovation trajectories and competitive dynamics.
Key Takeaways
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Claim Focus: The patent concentrates on a specific anti-tumor compound, its synthesis, and use, providing targeted protection that limits infringement risks but also constrains scope.
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Patent Landscape Dynamics: It operates within a dense Chinese and international patent environment, where overlapping patents necessitate thorough FTO analyses.
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Market Opportunities: The patent’s active status and expiration timeline suggest potential for licensing, legal enforcement, or development of novel but non-infringing derivatives.
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Strategic Significance: For innovators, CN1886120 exemplifies a balanced patent strategy—protecting core chemical assets while delineating clear scope.
FAQs
Q1: What is the core innovative aspect protected by CN1886120?
A1: The patent safeguards a specific chemical compound with anti-tumor activity, including its preparation method and therapeutic application, providing exclusive rights to its synthesis and use in cancer treatment within China.
Q2: How broad are the claims in CN1886120?
A2: The claims are relatively narrow, focusing on a particular chemical structure and its synthesis, which limits infringement to similar compounds with the same core features but reduces vulnerability to invalidation.
Q3: What is the patent landscape surrounding anti-tumor drugs in China?
A3: It is densely populated, with numerous patents filed by both Chinese and international entities, covering various chemical classes, mechanisms of action, and synthesis methods, requiring detailed freedom-to-operate analyses.
Q4: When will CN1886120 expire, and what significance does this have?
A4: Assuming compliance with renewal requirements, the patent is set to expire around 2033, after which generic manufacturers may legally produce equivalent compounds, expanding market competition.
Q5: How can a company leverage the protected scope of CN1886120?
A5: Companies can seek licensing agreements, develop non-infringing derivatives, or use the patent as leverage in negotiations, while ensuring their R&D efforts do not infringe its claims.
References
[1] China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). Patent filings related to anti-tumor agents. 2022.
[2] U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Patent US9500494, "Heterocyclic anti-cancer agents," 2016.
[3] World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Patent expiration statistics in the pharmaceutical sector. 2021.
