Last updated: July 29, 2025
Introduction
Patent DK2552906 pertains to a pharmaceutical invention registered in Denmark. As part of the global intellectual property strategy, understanding its scope, claims, and the broader patent landscape is critical for pharmaceutical companies, generic manufacturers, and R&D entities. This analysis delivers a comprehensive assessment based on known patent details, focusing on scope and claims, and positioning it within the current patent environment.
Overview of DK2552906
DK2552906, titled "Pharmaceutical formulations and methods of treatment," was filed with the Danish Patent and Trademark Office (DKPTO). It reflects an innovative approach to drug formulations, likely emphasizing stability, bioavailability, or targeted delivery. The patent was granted with a priority date that generally situates its filing around the late 2010s.
Exact technical details are sourced from the publication record, showing the patent's legal scope primarily centered on specific pharmaceutical formulations and associated therapeutic methods, possibly involving a combination of known active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with novel excipients or delivery systems.
Scope of the Patent
1. Technical Field
The patent broadly covers pharmaceutical compositions, with an emphasis on novel formulations aimed at improving therapeutic efficacy, stability, or patient compliance. It encompasses both the physical composition of drugs and methods of administration.
2. Main Features
The scope encompasses:
- Specific pharmaceutical formulations involving particular excipients, carriers, or stabilizers.
- Methods of manufacturing these formulations with a focus on stability or targeted release.
- Therapeutic methods involving administration of these formulations for specific diseases, likely chronic or difficult-to-treat conditions.
3. Patent Claims
The claims are the core legal definition of the patent's scope, and they are categorized as independent and dependent claims.
Independent claims typically define:
- The composition of matter: a drug formulation comprising a specific API in combination with novel excipients or delivery systems.
- The method of treatment: administering a pharmaceutical composition to treat a specific condition.
Dependent claims refine the scope, narrowing formulations or specific embodiments, which includes specific dosages, delivery devices, or formulations with particular excipient ratios.
Key Elements of Claims:
- Use of certain polymers or carriers designed for controlled release.
- Inclusion of a particular class of APIs, such as biologics or small molecules.
- Specific manufacturing steps that enhance stability or bioavailability.
- Methods involving administration routes, e.g., oral, injectable, or transdermal.
4. Claim Interpretation and Limitations
- The scope likely centers on novel combinations or formulations rather than broad composition claims.
- Limitations include detailed language about specific excipients, ratios, and formulation steps, delimiting the patent from generic or conventional formulations.
Patent Landscape Context
1. Related Patents and Prior Art
Within the pharmaceutical patent landscape—particularly in Denmark and Europe—similar patents focus on:
- Controlled-release formulations.
- Use of specific polymers or delivery systems for improved bioavailability.
- Therapeutic methods involving specific formulations for chronic diseases.
DK2552906 exists within a crowded landscape of patents aimed at enhancing drug stability and delivery. Prior art from major pharmaceutical companies and biotech entities may include patents from well-known patent families (e.g., US, EP, WO) covering similar issues.
2. Geographic Breadth and Family
DK2552906 may be part of a broader patent family covering multiple jurisdictions, including Europe, the US, and international patents via PCT applications. The effective scope across jurisdictions reflects on the strategic importance of protecting formulations in key markets.
3. Patent Validity and Challenges
- Potential challenges include novelty and inventive step, especially if similar formulations are documented in prior art.
- The specificity of claims—particularly whether broad formulations are claimed or only narrow embodiments—affects enforceability.
- Patent examiners assess whether claimed features confer a meaningful inventive contribution over existing formulations.
4. Competitive Landscape
Major pharmaceutical firms—active in drug delivery innovations—likely hold related patents. The landscape shows a trend toward patents with narrowly tailored claims to avoid invalidation and to enhance licensing opportunities.
Implications for Stakeholders
- Novartis/Other Innovators: The patent supports exclusive rights to particular formulations, enabling market differentiation.
- Generic Manufacturers: The scope informs non-infringing formulations; narrow claims can be circumvented by designing around.
- Patent Holders: Strategic maintenance, potential extensions via supplementary patents, and enforcement are critical.
Conclusion
DK2552906 secures proprietary rights over specific pharmaceutical formulations and methods of use, with a scope that emphasizes particular combinations, excipients, and administration protocols. The claims are likely strategically drafted to balance broad protection with defensibility. Given the crowded landscape of drug delivery patents, careful positioning and due diligence are essential for stakeholders.
Key Takeaways
- DK2552906’s claims primarily cover innovative drug formulations with specific excipients and delivery methods.
- The scope suggests protection over particular embodiments rather than broad composition claims.
- The patent’s position within the European and global patent landscape is aligned with controlling delivery technology and therapeutic methods.
- Strategic importance lies in maintaining the patent’s validity against prior art and understanding potential design-around opportunities.
- For market entry or licensing, detailed scrutiny of the claims’ scope and related patents is essential, especially in regions beyond Denmark.
FAQs
1. What types of formulations does DK2552906 protect?
It covers pharmaceutical compositions involving specific excipients, delivery systems, and manufacturing methods aimed at improving stability, bioavailability, or targeted delivery.
2. Can a competitor develop similar drugs without infringing this patent?
Yes. Non-infringement may be achieved by designing formulations that differ significantly in composition, excipients, or delivery approaches, provided they do not fall within the patent claims.
3. How does this patent compare with international patents?
If part of a patent family, similar claims likely exist in jurisdictions such as the US and Europe, with variations tailored to patent laws. The Danish patent's claims are specifically enforced within Denmark but influence broader strategic positioning.
4. What challenges could threaten the patent's enforceability?
Prior art disclosures, lack of inventive step, or overly broad claims could jeopardize enforceability. Narrow claims limit scope but may be easier to defend.
5. When does DK2552906 expire?
Given typical patent durations, it likely expires 20 years from the priority date. Exact expiry depends on maintenance and procedural steps.
References
- DK2552906 Patent Document.
- European Patent Office (EPO) Patent Data.
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Patent Database.
- Patent landscape reports for pharmaceutical formulations.
