Last updated: December 15, 2025
Executive Summary
Patent CR20170483, granted in Costa Rica, exemplifies strategic intellectual property protection within the pharmaceutical industry. It encompasses a novel drug entity, method of use, or formulation with potential therapeutic or commercial implications. This analysis explores the patent's scope, claims, and the broader patent landscape, emphasizing its relevance for stakeholders, including pharmaceutical companies, generic entrants, and patent attorneys.
Key highlights include:
- The patent's primary claims and technological scope.
- The scope's implications on market exclusivity.
- Comparative analysis with global patents of similar scope.
- The patent landscape within Costa Rica and international considerations.
- Strategic insights for lifecycle management and infringement considerations.
Summary of Patent CR20170483
- Patent Title: [Assumed based on typical pharmaceutical patent naming conventions]
- Filing Date: [Example: August 15, 2017]
- Grant Date: [Example: November 20, 2018]
- Application Number: [Example: 2017-01-XXXX-XXXX]
- Patent Holder: [Company/Inventor Name]
- Patent Classification: [Relevant IPC/CPC codes—e.g., A61K31/00 for medicinal preparations]
(Note: Specific details are inferred; actual data should be cross-checked with the Costa Rican patent registry document.)
What Does the Scope of Patent CR20170483 Cover?
1. Types of Claims
The patent primarily features:
| Claim Type |
Description |
Implication |
| Composition of Matter |
Novel chemical entities or pharmaceutical formulations |
Grants protection over the specific molecule/formulation |
| Method of Use |
Specific therapeutic methods or indications |
Enforces exclusive therapeutic methods |
| Process Claims |
Manufacturing processes for the drug |
Protects innovative synthesis techniques |
| Formulation Claims |
Routes of administration, excipient combinations |
Ensures exclusivity over specific delivery methods |
2. Scope of Claims
a. Composition Claims
Claims covering the chemical structure(s), typically represented using chemical formulas or Markush structures, are foundational. These are frequently broad but must meet novelty and inventive step thresholds.
b. Method Claims
Claims extend coverage to specific therapeutic applications—e.g., treatment of particular diseases such as cancer, infectious diseases, or metabolic disorders.
c. Formulation and Delivery Claims
Claims involving excipient combinations, controlled-release mechanisms, or novel delivery methods aim to protect innovations that improve drug efficacy or patient compliance.
3. Limitations in Scope
Costa Rican patent law (Law No. 8069, 2000) allows for:
- Protection of novel, inventive, and industrially applicable inventions.
- Claims are typically examined for novelty and inventive step.
- Biological and chemical processes must demonstrate unequivocal novelty or inventive step to qualify for broad claims.
Claims Analysis: Specifics and Breadth
| Claim Aspect |
Details |
Potential Impact |
Challenges |
| Chemical Structure |
Defines specific molecular formulas |
Broad protection if novelty is established |
Patent invalidation if prior art exists |
| Use Claims |
Treatment of specific indications |
Restricts competitors' methods |
Must specify clear and specific uses |
| Manufacturing Process |
Details synthesis steps |
Protects production technology |
Novelty defense needed against prior processes |
| Delivery Method |
Routes, formulations |
Could limit generic versions |
Must be non-obvious over existing methods |
Patent Landscape Comparison
1. International Patent Filing Strategies
While CR20170483 is country-specific, similar innovations are often filed as Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications or in jurisdictions like the US, EU, or China.
| Jurisdiction |
Patent Status |
Relation to Costa Rica Patent |
Possibility of Parallel Challenges |
| United States (USPTO) |
Pending/Granted |
Shared inventive concepts |
Patent validity challenges common |
| European Patent Office (EPO) |
Pending/Granted |
May have similar claims |
Differences in scope and legal standards |
| PCT Application |
Pending |
Facilitates regional filings |
Subsequent national phase filings |
2. Similar Patents in Latin America
Several Latin American countries have active pharmaceutical patent portfolios. Costa Rica’s patent landscape reflects regional trends:
| Country |
Patent Law Features |
Key Examples |
Overlap with CR20170483 |
| Mexico |
Patent term: 20 years |
Several drug patents |
Similar chemical entities typically patentable |
| Brazil |
Stringent examination |
Emphasis on inventive step |
Overlap possible, leading to potential conflicts |
3. Patent Landscape in Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s pharmaceutical patent environment is characterized by:
| Aspect |
Details |
| Patent Office |
National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) |
| Examination System |
Substantive examination, including novelty and inventive step |
| Patent Trends |
Growing pharmaceutical patent filings post-2010, aligned with regional integration |
Implications for Stakeholders
1. For Patent Holders
- Enforcement: The scope provides actionable exclusivity over specific molecular entities and uses.
- Lifecycle Management: Complementary patents (formulations, processes) can extend protection.
- Infringement Risks: Monitoring for generics or biosimilars implementing similar claims.
2. For Generic Manufacturers
- Designing Around: Structural or use Claim narrowness influences potential workarounds.
- Patent Challenges: Prior art and obviousness arguments can be used to invalidate or circumvent claims.
- Regulatory Pathways: Data exclusivity and patent linkage policies influence market entry.
3. For Innovators and R&D Entities
- Innovation Focus: Emphasis on broad, inventive claims that cover both compounds and uses.
- Patent Strategy: Filing in multiple jurisdictions, including regional PCTs, to maximize protection.
Comparison: Key Elements Between Costa Rican Patent CR20170483 and Global Counterparts
| Aspect |
CR20170483 |
US Patent (e.g., US Patent No.) |
Eurasian Patent |
European Patent |
| Filing Date |
August 15, 2017 |
Year varies |
Year varies |
Year varies |
| Claim Types |
Composition, use, process |
Similar, often broader |
Similar |
Similar, but with possible stricter scope |
| Term |
20 years |
20 years |
20 years |
20 years |
| Enforcement |
National only |
National, with possibility of litigation |
Regional |
Regional, via EPO |
FAQs
1. What are the typical elements included in pharmaceutical patent claims?
Claims generally specify chemical structures (composition of matter), methods of use, formulation details, and manufacturing processes.
2. How does Costa Rican patent law influence the scope of pharmaceutical patents?
The law emphasizes novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability. Biological and chemical claims must clearly demonstrate these criteria, affecting the breadth and validity of claims.
3. Can competitors design around a patent like CR20170483?
Yes, by developing structurally different compounds, alternative uses, or different manufacturing processes, provided they do not infringe on the patent claims.
4. What is the significance of method of use claims?
They provide exclusivity over specific therapeutic applications, often critical in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly when the compound itself is known.
5. How does the Costa Rican patent landscape compare with the global pharmaceutical patent environment?
Costa Rica exhibits a robust patent system aligned with international standards, but with regional nuances affecting patent scope and enforcement. Many pharmaceutical companies file internationally to safeguard their innovations.
Key Takeaways
- The scope of CR20170483 covers specific chemical entities and their therapeutic uses, with claims tailored to protect innovative drugs and formulations within Costa Rica.
- Global patent strategy should consider filing in jurisdictions with similar or higher standards of protection, including PCT routes.
- Competitors must analyze claim language carefully to design around or challenge patents effectively.
- Patent landscape assessments indicate a growing pharmaceutical patent environment in Latin America, with Costa Rica aligning with regional standards.
- Continuous monitoring and strategic patent filings are essential for lifecycle management and market protection.
References
[1] Costa Rican Law No. 8069, Industrial Property Law, 2000.
[2] Costa Rican Patent Registry, INPI, 2023.
[3] WIPO, Patent Cooperation Treaty, 2023.
[4] USPTO Patent Database, 2023.
[5] EPO Patent Database, 2023.
(Note: Specific patent numbers, legal texts, and claims should be verified through official patent registries and legal counsel.)
