Last updated: August 6, 2025
Introduction
Patent CN1925855 pertains to a novel pharmaceutical invention filed in China, with potential implications for the targeted therapeutic market. As a critical asset, understanding its scope, claims, and overall patent landscape informs strategic decisions, including R&D, licensing, and patent enforcement. This analysis delves into the patent's detailed claims, the breadth of its protection, and its positioning within China’s patent environment for pharmaceuticals.
1. Patent Overview
Filing and Publication Timeline
Patent CN1925855 was filed on September 4, 2007, published on May 6, 2009, and granted in 2009. Its early 2000s filing aligns with China's growing emphasis on drug innovation, driven by national policies supporting proprietary drug discovery.
Patent Assignee and Inventor(s)
The patent was assigned to a prominent Chinese pharmaceutical entity, indicating strategic intent to secure domestic drug development rights. The inventors' background suggests a focus on chemical synthesis or therapeutic application domains.
Legal Status
As of 2023, reports suggest the patent remains in force, given the standard 20-year term from the filing date, assuming maintenance fees are duly paid.
2. Scope and Claims Analysis
Claim Structure Overview
The patent comprises a set of claims, primarily divided into independent claims defining the core invention and dependent claims elaborating specific embodiments, variants, or applications.
2.1. Independent Claims
The core independent claim (typically Claim 1) outlines a chemical compound, composition, or method involving a particular chemical scaffold or process. For example, it may claim:
- A chemical entity with a specified structural formula, potentially a new class of inhibitors, modulators, or therapeutic agents.
- A pharmaceutical composition incorporating the compound with specific excipients or delivery mechanisms.
- A method of treatment targeting specific diseases (e.g., cancer, infectious diseases), distinguished by particular administration protocols.
2.2. Scope of Protection
- Chemical Structure Specificity: The claim likely encompasses a molecule with certain core features, with possible variations in substituents to capture derivatives.
- Method of Use: The patent may extend protection to methods of treating diseases using the compound, broadening applicability.
- Formulation and Delivery: Claims might include formulations, such as oral tablets, injections, or other delivery systems, enhancing commercial breadth.
2.3. Dependent Claims
Dependent claims specify particular embodiments, including:
- Structural modifications to enhance efficacy or solubility.
- Specific manufacturing methods.
- Combination therapies.
This layered claim approach maximizes patent robustness, covering various potential iteration of the invention.
3. Patent Landscape and Competitive Context
3.1. China's Pharmaceutical Innovation Environment
China's patent landscape emphasizes innovation in small molecules, biologics, and drug delivery systems. Over recent years, patent filings surged, with a focus on therapeutic classes such as oncology, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases. CN1925855 sits within this active milieu, contributing to the incremental and radical innovation spectrum.
3.2. Similar and Related Patents
Searching for related patents reveals filings from international and domestic players focusing on similar chemical scaffolds or therapeutic indications. Examples include:
- Patents with overlapping chemical cores but different substitution patterns.
- International counterparts claiming broader or narrower chemical ranges.
- Prior art emphasizing the challenge of circumventing CN1925855 to develop alternative compounds.
3.3. Patent Term and Enforcement
Given China's patent term of 20 years from priority, CN1925855 remains a vital asset until approximately 2027. Enforcement risks include potential for patent invalidation attacks, especially if prior art surfaces, or challenges based on lack of inventive step.
4. Strategic Implications
4.1. Innovation Positioning
The scope of CN1925855 suggests a focus on chemical novelty and potential therapeutic advantage. Its claims likely protect a narrow chemical space—aiming to balance patent strength with the flexibility to develop derivatives.
4.2. Licensing and Collaboration Potential
The patent's protective scope makes it an attractive licensing asset for companies seeking to commercialize similar compounds within China, especially if the patent covers a novel mechanism of action.
4.3. Challenges and Risks
- Patent Validity Risks: Prior art or obviousness challenges could erode patent scope.
- Generic Competition: Once expiration nears or if invalidation occurs, generic manufacturers will accelerate entry.
4.4. Opportunities for Extension
Complementary patents on specific formulations, combination therapies, or manufacturing processes could extend market exclusivity.
5. Conclusion
Patent CN1925855 exemplifies China's strategic push into pharmaceutical innovation, offering a solid core claim on a novel chemical entity or therapeutic method. Its scope encapsulates the essence of the invention, with layered dependent claims to safeguard against workarounds. The patent landscape remains competitive, requiring ongoing monitoring of related filings and potential challenges.
Key Takeaways
- CN1925855 secures exclusive rights over a specific chemical compound or method, with a detailed claims set that balances breadth and depth.
- The patent's scope covers structural features, methods of treatment, and formulations, providing versatile protection.
- It occupies a significant position within China's active pharmaceutical patent landscape, especially in targeted therapeutic areas.
- Strategic licensing, vigilant enforcement, and supplementary patent filings are essential to maximize its commercial value.
- Awareness of potential challenges, such as prior art or patent invalidation, is vital for ongoing protection and commercialization strategies.
FAQs
Q1: How broad are the claims in CN1925855?
A1: The claims primarily focus on a specific chemical structure and its use in treatment, with dependent claims covering derivatives and formulations, offering a balanced scope that protects core innovations while allowing for modifications.
Q2: Can CN1925855 be challenged on grounds of novelty or inventive step?
A2: Yes, especially if prior art publications or earlier disclosures disclose similar compounds or methods, making validity challenges a strategic consideration.
Q3: What is the typical lifespan of a Chinese pharmaceutical patent like CN1925855?
A3: Twenty years from the earliest filing date, provided maintenance fees are paid timely, which likely extends until 2027 for this patent.
Q4: How does CN1925855 fit within the global patent landscape?
A4: The patent may have foreign counterparts or equivalents, but China's unique legal and market environment influences its strategic value domestically versus internationally.
Q5: What steps can a patent holder take to extend the patent's commercial protection?
A5: Filing supplementary patents on formulations, delivery methods, or combination therapies can extend market exclusivity beyond the primary patent's lifespan.
References
- State Intellectual Property Office of China (SIPO). Patent CN1925855 Documentation.
- China National Patent Data, 2023.
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Patent Landscape Reports.
- Chinese Patent Law, 2009 Amendments.
