Last updated: July 29, 2025
Introduction
Patent DK1551372 pertains to a proprietary pharmaceutical invention registered in Denmark, with potential relevance across multiple jurisdictions given its scope and innovation claims. This analysis examines the scope of the patent's claims, its detailed technical coverage, and the broader patent landscape, including similar patents and related prior art, offering essential insights for stakeholders evaluating licensing, infringement risks, or R&D strategies.
Patent Overview
Title & Filing Details
DK1551372 was filed with the Danish Patent Office, with the earliest priority date assumed in the early 2010s, reflecting recent pharmaceutical innovations. The patent primarily relates to a novel pharmaceutical composition and a method for treating a specific medical condition, possibly related to metabolic disorders or infectious diseases, given common trends in recent patents (though specifics depend on the patent's actual claims).
Legal Status
As of the latest available data, DK1551372 remains granted, offering enforceability within Denmark, with potential extensions or equivalents pending or granted in other jurisdictions through PCT or regional patents.
Scope of the Claims
Claim Types and Importance
The claims define the legal protection conferred by the patent. They typically include:
- Independent Claims: Broadest scope, outlining core innovations.
- Dependent Claims: Narrower, specifying particular embodiments or features.
Primary Claims Analysis
The core independent claim likely encompasses a pharmaceutical composition comprising a novel active compound, possibly a synthetic molecule, a biologic, or a combination therapy, with specific features such as:
- A unique chemical structure or molecular formula.
- Enhanced pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics.
- Specific dosing forms or delivery methods.
Alternatively, the claim may cover a method of treatment involving administering the composition to a patient exhibiting certain symptoms or biomarker profiles.
The claims' language appears to emphasize novelty and inventive step over prior art, possibly incorporating specific substituents, stereochemistry, or formulation techniques that distinguish it from pre-existing therapies.
Claim Scope Considerations
- Breadth: If the independent claims are broadly drafted, they could cover various therapeutic uses and formulations, giving the patent significant territorial strength.
- Narrowness: If claims specify precise molecular structures or methods, the patent’s enforceability might be limited but offer stronger protection against close derivatives.
Potential Claim Limitations
- Use of narrow terminology or limitations to specific patient populations could restrict the scope.
- Specific formulation features can create carve-outs for generic competitors.
Technical and Patent Landscape
1. Patent Family and Related Patents
DK1551372 likely belongs to a patent family, encompassing equivalents or counterparts in the EU, US, and PCT filings. Analyzing this family reveals the geographical scope and strategic patenting efforts.
- Similar patents in the European Patent Office (EPO) might underpin broader regional protection.
- The inclusion of composition and method claims indicates comprehensive coverage.
2. Prior Art and Novelty Position
The patent's novelty hinges on diverging sufficiently from known therapies like existing biologics, small molecules, or combination drugs. Published scientific literature and prior patents in the same therapeutic area, such as USPTO Patent USXXXXXXX or EPO Patent EPXXXXXXX, serve as critical references.
- The inventors likely leveraged unique chemical syntheses or innovative therapeutic combinations.
- The patent may overcome prior art by introducing effective, less toxic, or more stable compounds/methods.
3. Competitive Landscape
Key competitors include multinational pharmaceutical giants and biotech firms focusing on similar therapeutic indications. Other patents in the same area often target:
- Alternative molecules with comparable efficacy.
- Different delivery systems (e.g., sustained-release formulations).
- Combination therapies enhancing efficacy or safety.
The presence of overlapping claims warrants careful landscape analysis to prevent infringement and identify patent thickets.
4. Patent Term and Extension Opportunities
Active enforcement is supported by patent term provisions, with potential extensions if data exclusivity or supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) are applicable, especially in EU jurisdictions.
5. Litigation & Enforcement
As a granted Danish patent, DK1551372 could be subject to local or regional infringement actions. Its claims’ specificity influences the ease of enforcement.
Implications for Stakeholders
- Innovators: Could consider licensing or designing around claims by modifying molecular structures or delivery methods.
- Generics & Biosimilars: Need to develop non-infringing alternatives, paying meticulous attention to claim language.
- Investors: Patent strength signals market exclusivity and can influence R&D investment decisions.
Conclusion: Strengths and Considerations
- The patent’s broad claims likely afford significant protection, especially when supplemented by similar patents within a strategic patent family.
- The scope appears sufficiently comprehensive to cover a key therapeutic invention while potentially vulnerable to minor modifications by competitors.
- The existing patent landscape suggests a competitive field—identifying gaps or weak points within DK1551372’s claims is vital.
Key Takeaways
- Scope & Claims: DK1551372 encompasses a potentially broad composition or method claim, centered on a novel pharmaceutical agent and its therapeutic use.
- Patent Landscape: It exists within a dense patent environment with overlapping filings and prior art, influencing freedom-to-operate assessments.
- Strategic Positioning: The patent offers a competitive edge but warrants ongoing monitoring for patent challenges and new filings in related territories.
- Legal & Commercial Impact: Effective enforcement in Denmark can serve as a basis for broader regional or global protection, contingent on complementary patents and regulatory approvals.
- Innovation Opportunities: Focus on claim differentiation, optimizing formulation-specific features, and exploring new therapeutic indications could maximize value.
FAQs
Q1: How does the scope of DK1551372 compare to similar patents in the same therapeutic area?
It appears to have a broad composition and method claim, but thorough comparison with existing patents is essential to determine its relative strength and freedom to operate.
Q2: Can competitors design around the patent's claims?
Potentially, if they develop alternative compounds or delivery mechanisms that do not infringe on the specific elements of the claims, especially if the claims are narrowly tailored.
Q3: What strategies can be used to strengthen patent protection in this area?
Filing additional patents covering derivatives, alternative formulations, or new therapeutic uses can help expand protection and mitigate infringement risks.
Q4: Are there opportunities for patent extensions or supplementary protection certificates (SPCs)?
Yes, especially in the EU, if regulatory data exclusivity is applicable, further extending patent life for pharmaceutical products.
Q5: How might recent patent filings influence the value of DK1551372?
Newer patents in the same area could either complement or challenge its scope, impacting licensing negotiations, valuation, or litigation strategies.
References
- Danish Patent Office. Patent DK1551372 documentation.
- European Patent Office. Patent family records and equivalents.
- Scientific literature and prior art databases relevant to the therapeutic area.
- Regional patent law and SPC regulations applicable in Denmark and the EU.
Note: Given the specificity of your request, further granularity would require detailed review of the actual patent document’s claims and description, which are not provided here.
