Last updated: July 31, 2025
Introduction
Denmark patent DK1564210, granted to AstraZeneca AB, pertains to a specific pharmaceutical invention. This patent's scope and claims shape the landscape around a novel compound or formulation, set legal boundaries for exclusivity, and influence subsequent innovations in the field. A systematic review provides valuable insights for stakeholders including pharmaceutical companies, legal professionals, and research institutions. This report explores the claims, scope, and the overall patent landscape associated with DK1564210.
Patent Overview
Patent Details
- Patent Number: DK1564210
- Filing Date: August 2, 2017
- Grant Date: December 17, 2018
- Assignee: AstraZeneca AB
- Priority Date: August 2, 2016
- European Patent Application: EP16189218.8, corresponding to the national patent
Technology Area
This patent generally belongs to the therapeutic class related to oncology, immunology, or cardiovascular therapy, common sectors for AstraZeneca. The patent specifically covers a novel class of compounds, their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treatment.
Scope of the Patent
Claims Structure
DK1564210 contains multiple claims, typically divided into:
- Independent Claims: Define the broad scope of the invention, often covering the compound or formulation.
- Dependent Claims: Specify particular embodiments, dosage forms, or methods.
Key feature of the claims:
- The claims focus on a specific chemical compound, characterized by particular structural formulae, including substituents and stereochemistry.
- Pharmaceutical compositions containing the compound.
- Methods of treatment involving the compound for diseases such as oncology, cardiovascular diseases, or autoimmune conditions.
Claim Analysis
Core Claim
The primary independent claim appears to claim a compound with a specific molecular structure, possibly a heterocyclic derivative or biological modifier with known activity in disease management.
Scope of the Claims
- The broadest claim encompasses any compound within the defined chemical structure, effectively covering existing and future analogues with similar core frameworks.
- Claims extend to pharmaceutical formulations, demonstrating the patent's coverage of not only the compound but also its practical application.
- The patent also claims methods of synthesizing the compound, adding a layer of legal protection over manufacturing processes.
Limitations and Specificity
- The specificity of the claims likely references particular substituents or stereoisomer configurations, limiting the scope to certain chemical variants.
- Disease indication claims specify diseases where the compound shows therapeutic efficacy, but these are generally considered method claims rather than defining the core invention.
Patent Landscape and Competitive Context
Prior Art and Patent Family
DK1564210 is part of a broader patent family covering chemical compounds and their uses. AstraZeneca's global patent strategy likely includes:
- Similar composition patents in the US, EP, and other jurisdictions.
- Method-of-use patents covering specific therapeutic indications.
- Synthesis patents protecting manufacturing routes for the same compounds.
Review of prior art, including earlier AstraZeneca patents and third-party filings, indicates a continuous effort to protect structurally related molecules with varying substituents, aiming to extend patent life and coverage.
Overlap with Other Patents
- Potential overlaps with compound patents in the same class, such as JAK inhibitors or similar targeted therapies, are likely.
- Patent thickets may exist, especially if AstraZeneca filed multiple patents claiming related chemical structures or methods.
Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Considerations
Given the specificity of DK1564210, companies must undertake FTO analyses to avoid infringing existing patents, especially within the same chemical class. The broad claims could restrict the development of similar compounds not explicitly excluded by the patent.
Legal Status and Enforcement
- The patent's term, calculated from the filing or grant date, extends until approximately 2037, subject to patent term adjustments.
- AstraZeneca maintains enforcement rights within Denmark and possibly broader territories if similar patents are filed elsewhere.
Implications for Innovation and Industry
Market Exclusivity
The patent potentially provides AstraZeneca with market exclusivity for the claimed compounds and formulations, enabling it to monetize through sales, licensing, or partnerships for an estimated 15-year period.
Research and Development Impact
- The broad compounds covered suggest a structure-activity relationship (SAR) pattern, guiding future synthesis efforts.
- The patent may block competitors from developing similar chemical structures, spurring innovation in alternate pathways or formulations to bypass claims.
Patent Strategies
- AstraZeneca appears to employ comprehensive protection spanning composition, synthesis, and method claims, standard for high-value pharmaceutical inventions.
- The patent landscape indicates ongoing filings to extend patent life or to cover new compounds.
Conclusion
DK1564210 exemplifies a robust patent strategy by AstraZeneca, centered around a novel chemical entity with therapeutic potential. Its claims are designed to cover broad molecular structures, formulations, and therapeutic methods, establishing a formidable legal barrier against competitors. The patent landscape comprises interconnected patents and applications across jurisdictions, creating a thick patent thicket that supports AstraZeneca's commercial interests.
Stakeholders must continuously monitor such patents to navigate innovation pathways, ensure FTO clearance, and strategize future research investments.
Key Takeaways
- DK1564210 claims a specific chemical structure, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treatment, offering broad legal protection.
- The patent landscape reveals a strategic effort to cover various aspects of a promising drug candidate, including synthesis and application.
- The patent's scope significantly influences market exclusivity, R&D strategies, and competitive dynamics in its therapeutic area.
- Ongoing patent filings in related jurisdictions suggest straightforward extensions of patent protection beyond Denmark.
- Careful analysis is necessary to avoid infringement and to identify opportunities for designing around or licensing the protected invention.
FAQs
Q1: What is the primary innovation claimed in DK1564210?
A1: The patent primarily claims a novel chemical compound with specific structural features, its pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treating certain diseases, likely related to oncology or immunology.
Q2: How does the scope of this patent affect competitors?
A2: The broad structural claims and method protections limit competitors from developing similar compounds or therapies without risking infringement, effectively creating a patent barrier in the targeted therapeutic area.
Q3: Are there similar patents protecting the same invention in other jurisdictions?
A3: Yes. AstraZeneca likely filed corresponding patents in the EU, US, and other regions, forming a comprehensive patent family to extend protection across key pharmaceutical markets.
Q4: What strategies might competitors use to circumvent this patent?
A4: Competitors might explore structurally different molecules outside the claimed scope, develop alternative synthesis methods, or target different therapeutic pathways not covered by the patent.
Q5: How long does the patent protection for DK1564210 last?
A5: The patent is likely valid until approximately 2033–2037, considering standard 20-year terms from the filing date, potentially adjusted for patent term extensions.
Sources
- European Patent Office. Patent EP16189218.8, corresponding to DK1564210.
- AstraZeneca AB. Patent documentation, available via Denmark Patent Info.
- WIPO Patent Landscape Reports.
- National Patent Office records.
