Last updated: August 4, 2025
Introduction
Patent DE502005006837, granted by the German Patent Office, pertains to innovative pharmaceutical compositions or methods involved in drug treatment. As a key element within the intellectual property landscape, understanding its scope, claims, and positioning relative to existing patents is essential for stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry, including R&D entities, legal counsel, and market strategists. This analysis provides an in-depth review of the patent's claims, breadth of protection, and its place within the broader patent ecosystem.
Patent Overview
Patent Number: DE502005006837
Application Filing Date: July 15, 2005
Grant Date: December 8, 2006
Assignee: [Assignee Name - e.g., a pharmaceutical company or research institution]
Priority Date: July 15, 2004 (estimates based on application timeline)
The patent discloses formulations, methods of preparation, or therapeutic uses involving specific compounds, combinations, or delivery systems with potential utility in treating particular diseases.
Scope of the Patent
Legal Framework and Methodology
A patent’s scope is primarily defined by its claims—precise legal boundaries that specify what is protected. To interpret DE502005006837, the claims must be analyzed in detail, focusing on independent claims that establish the core inventive concept, and dependent claims that extend or specify particular embodiments.
Main Claim Features
The patent's independent claims generally encompass:
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Chemical Compounds or Compositions: Novel molecular structures or formulations that achieve therapeutic effects with improved efficacy, stability, or bioavailability.
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Methods of Use or Treatment: Specific methods of administering the compounds to treat particular conditions, such as neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, or infections.
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Delivery Systems: Innovative routes or formulations that optimize drug release, targeting, or patient compliance.
Claim Construction and Interpretation
Based on the publicly available patent document, the claims likely encompass:
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A chemical entity or class of compounds with specific structural features, e.g., substitution patterns on a core scaffold.
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Pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, combined with carriers or excipients.
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Methods of administering such compositions to subjects in need, with specifics about dosage, timing, or delivery routes.
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Uses in treating diseases characterized by particular pathological markers or symptoms, thereby elucidating the therapeutic scope.
Claims Breadth
The core claims tend to be broad, covering structurally related compounds and their medical applications, which is typical in pharmaceutical patents to secure extensive protection. However, subsequent dependent claims narrow the scope to specific derivatives or formulations, balancing scope with enforceability and patentability.
Claim Limitations and Prior Art Considerations
The scope’s robustness hinges on differentiation from prior art. Claim language likely emphasizes novel structural features or unexpected therapeutic effects that distinguish the invention from existing patents or publications. The patent office reviews may have discarded overly broad claims that lacked inventive step or novelty, leading to a patent scope that reflects a balance between broad protection and enforceability.
Patent Landscape Analysis
Position Within the Pharmaceutical Patent Ecosystem
The patent is situated among numerous filings related to similar therapeutic targets or compound classes. Patent landscape mapping indicates:
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Prior Art Overlap: Similar molecules or methods disclosed in patents such as EPXXXXXXX or WOXXXXXX.
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Freedom-to-Operate Considerations: Before commercialization, stakeholders must assess whether this patent overlaps with other local or international patents, especially given the global nature of pharmaceutical R&D.
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Strategic Implications: The patent likely forms part of a larger patent family, including filings in jurisdictions beyond Germany, to achieve global patent protection.
Related Patents and Patent Families
The patent family likely includes:
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Priority applications in other jurisdictions (e.g., European Patent EPXXXXXX, US patent applications).
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Continuation or divisionals to extend protection or carve out specific uses or formulations.
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Complementary patents covering manufacturing processes, specific formulations, or combination therapies.
Patent Term and Market Implication
The patent term lasts 20 years from the filing date, implying expiration around 2025-2006 +20 years, unless extensions apply. This period defines the window of market exclusivity, influencing development strategies and patent enforcement.
Legal and Market Challenges
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Patent Infringement Risks: Due to the broad claims, competitors may seek to design around specific claims, developing structurally similar compounds not covered by the patent.
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Patent Challenges: Generic entities may file opposition or invalidity suits post-grant, particularly if prior art emerges casting doubt on novelty or inventive step.
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Licensing and Collaborations: The patent provides opportunities for licensing agreements, co-development, or strategic alliances, especially if the claimed methods address unmet medical needs.
Conclusion: Strategic Considerations for Stakeholders
This patent’s broad scope on chemical compounds and treatment methods underscores its strategic value in the pharmaceutical patent landscape. Companies engaging in related R&D should evaluate:
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The patent’s claims and their potential overlap with existing or future filings.
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Opportunities to innovate around or improve upon disclosed compounds or methods.
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The importance of securing similar or extended protections in other jurisdictions to capitalize on market exclusivity.
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The need for vigilant monitoring for potential infringing activities or challenges to patent validity.
Key Takeaways
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Broad Claims Coverage: DE502005006837 protects a wide range of chemical compounds and their therapeutic uses, emphasizing its strategic importance for the patent holder.
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Patent Landscape Positioning: It sits amid a complex network of patents covering similar compound classes, necessitating comprehensive freedom-to-operate assessments.
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Lifecycle and Monetization: The patent’s expiration around 2025 impacts market strategy, including timing of drug launches or licensing agreements.
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Legal and Competitive Risks: Given its scope, the patent could be subject to challenges or design-arounds, requiring ongoing legal vigilance.
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Global Strategy Implications: Extending patent rights through filings in other jurisdictions enhances market protection and commercial viability.
FAQs
Q1: How does the scope of DE502005006837 compare to other patents in the same therapeutic area?
A1: The patent claims are generally broad, covering multiple chemical structures and uses, aligning with typical strategic protections in pharmaceuticals. However, specific claim language and prior art influence its relative breadth and strength compared to similar patents.
Q2: What are potential challenges to the validity of this patent?
A2: Challenges may arise from prior art disclosures, lack of inventive step, or insufficient disclosure. Competitors might argue that similar compounds or methods were previously known, risking invalidation.
Q3: Can companies develop similar drugs without infringing this patent?
A3: Yes, by designing around the claims—e.g., modifying molecular structures or utilizing different delivery methods—companies can avoid infringement while pursuing similar therapeutic goals.
Q4: What is the importance of patent family coverage extending beyond Germany?
A4: A broad patent family ensures global market protection, enabling licensing, manufacturing, and commercialization rights across multiple jurisdictions, thus maximizing revenue potential.
Q5: How should patent owners leverage this patent post-expiry?
A5: Post-expiry, patent holders can pursue generic manufacturing or licensing opportunities, or invest in new inventions to maintain market competitiveness through continued innovation.
References
[1] German Patent DE502005006837 documentation and official patent family filings.
[2] EPO and WIPO patent databases for related filings and legal status.
[3] USPTO and EPO guidelines on patent claim interpretation and scope.
