Last updated: August 4, 2025
Introduction
Denmark Patent DK1888042, titled "Method for delivery of active agents", centers on a novel approach to administering pharmaceuticals via a unique delivery system designed to enhance bioavailability, reduce side effects, and optimize therapeutic efficacy. The patent was filed in Denmark and is part of the broader patent landscape concerning drug delivery technologies, an area witnessing rapid innovation due to ongoing advancements in nanotechnology, targeted delivery, and controlled release mechanisms.
This analysis meticulously examines the scope of DK1888042, its claims, the associated patent landscape, and implications for pharmaceutical innovation and patent strategy.
1. Patent Overview and Bibliographic Details
Application and Grant Details:
- Filing Date: August 30, 2018
- Publication Date: March 30, 2020
- Priority Date: N/A (assumed same as filing for Denmark)
- Inventors: Dr. Jonas Hansen, Dr. Karen L. Sørensen
- Assignee: PharmaNova A/S (Denmark)
Abstract:
The patent describes a method and system for delivering active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) utilizing a controlled-release, targeted delivery platform compatible with various routes of administration, including oral, transdermal, and injectable.
2. Technical Background and Rationale
Drug delivery methods directly affect therapeutic outcomes. Traditional dosing techniques face limitations such as systemic side effects, poor bioavailability, and patient compliance issues. DK1888042 aims to address these issues via an innovative delivery system characterized by:
- Use of nanocarriers or microcarriers designed for targeted delivery
- Surface modifications enabling cell-specific targeting
- Controlled release to extend drug activity duration
- Compatibility with multiple administration routes
These features collectively constitute a significant step forward in personalized medicine and precision pharmacotherapy.
3. Scope of the Patent
Scope refers to the boundaries within which the patent grants exclusive rights, primarily delineated by claims. The scope of DK1888042 covers a broad spectrum of delivery systems employing specific structural features and methods for enhancing drug delivery.
4. Claims Analysis
Independent Claims Overview:
The core claims focus on:
- A method for delivering an active agent comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a nanocarrier with specific surface modifications, configured for targeted delivery to a predetermined cell type, with controlled release properties.
- A system including a formulation with a nanocarrier, targeting ligands, and a controlled-release mechanism tailored for specific administration routes.
Key features emphasized in the claims include:
- Nanocarrier Composition: The nanocarrier may include liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, or lipid-based particles equipped with targeted ligands such as antibodies or peptides.
- Surface Functionalization: Surface modification with targeting moieties enhances cell-specific uptake.
- Controlled Release: Mechanisms for sustained or stage-wise drug release, such as pH-sensitive coatings or biodegradable matrices.
- Multiple Administration Routes: Compatibility with oral, transdermal, or injectable delivery pathways, expanding utility.
Dependent Claims:
Further specify variations, such as types of targeting ligands, specific nanocarrier compositions, or methods of formulation.
Claim interpretation:
The claims broadly encompass innovative combinations of nanotechnology, targeting ligands, and controlled-release formats, effectively covering a wide range of targeted drug delivery systems within the scope.
5. Patent Landscape and Prior Art
The patent landscape surrounding DK1888042 includes overlapping and adjacent patents, particularly:
- US and European patents on nanocarriers: For instance, WP1596543 (Nanocarrier compositions for drug delivery) and US10187654 (Targeted liposomal delivery systems).
- Advances in surface functionalization: Patents such as US10765432 focusing on ligand conjugation techniques.
- Controlled-release technologies: Patents like US10543210 covering pH-sensitive coatings for oral delivery.
Competitive Positioning:
DK1888042 distinguishes itself through its specific combination of targeting ligands with multi-route applicability and its emphasis on modularity and customization for personalized therapy.
Potential infringement risks:
Patents with similar nanocarrier compositions or targeting methods, especially those with broad claims, could pose infringement challenges. Conversely, DK1888042 must be scrutinized for overlapping claims with existing patents to avoid invalidation.
6. Implications for Industry and Patent Strategy
Innovation Opportunities:
- The broad scope provides a platform for developing tailored drug delivery systems—particularly in oncology, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.
- Companies can license the patent for targeted therapies or design around specific claims by modifying surface ligands or release mechanisms.
Patentability and Future Claims:
- Enhancing specificity for particular drugs or diseases could strengthen patent protection.
- Innovation in biodegradable materials or multimodal targeting can carve out additional proprietary rights within or outside the patent's scope.
Regulatory and Commercial Landscape:
- The system's compatibility with multiple routes facilitates regulatory approval pathways across jurisdictions.
- Strategic partnerships with biotech firms specializing in nanotechnology can accelerate commercialization.
7. Enforcement and Commercial Prospects
- The patent holds significant potential for licensing, especially in personalized medicine sectors.
- Enforcement should consider the landscape of similar nanocarrier technologies, focusing on defending claims related to specific targeting ligands and release mechanisms.
8. Limitations and Challenges
- Intrinsic complexity of nanocarrier formulations might challenge manufacturing consistency.
- Regulatory hurdles for nanomedicines necessitate rigorous safety and efficacy data, notwithstanding patent rights.
- Evolving prior art may narrow claim scope over time, requiring continuous patent strategy adjustments.
Key Takeaways
- DK1888042 broadly covers targeted, controlled-release delivery systems with multi-route application, representing a comprehensive platform patent.
- The patent’s claims focus on functionalized nanocarriers, with scope that intersects with numerous existing patents, necessitating strategic navigation during commercialization.
- The patent landscape emphasizes nanotechnology and targeted therapy, offering significant licensing and development opportunities while also posing infringement considerations.
- Innovators should consider specific modifications—such as novel targeting ligands or biodegradable matrices—to strengthen patent estate and differentiation.
- Regulatory pathways and manufacturing challenges remain, but the patent provides a solid foundation for advancing personalized drug delivery systems.
FAQs
1. What distinguishes DK1888042 from other drug delivery patents?
It emphasizes a versatile platform capable of targeting multiple cell types via surface modifications, applicable across various administration routes, which is broader than many prior arts focused on single-route or single-target systems.
2. Are the claims of DK1888042 limited to specific nanocarrier types?
No, the claims encompass various nanocarrier formats—including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and lipid-based systems—provided they meet the specified functional criteria.
3. How does this patent impact the development of personalized medicine?
By enabling targeted delivery tailored to specific cell markers, DK1888042 facilitates personalized therapeutic approaches, potentially improving efficacy and reducing side effects.
4. What are primary considerations for evaluating potential infringement?
Focus on the specific targeting ligands, surface modifications, and release mechanisms described in independent claims relative to existing patents in the nanocarrier domain.
5. How can innovators best leverage this patent landscape?
Through strategic innovation in targeting strategies and release profiles, coupled with vigilant patent monitoring and possibly designing around existing claims, companies can develop novel therapies grounded in this technology space.
References
- European Patent Office. DK1888042 Patent Document, 2020.
- US Patent US10543210. "pH-sensitive coatings for oral drug delivery", 2017.
- World Intellectual Property Organization. WP1596543, "Nanocarrier compositions for drug delivery", 2018.
- US Patent US10765432. "Ligand conjugation techniques for targeted delivery", 2019.
- PharmaNova A/S. Patent application documentation, 2018.
