Last updated: August 5, 2025
Introduction
The Danish patent DK2914296, titled "Pharmaceutical compositions comprising a combination of compounds," represents a significant intellectual property asset within the medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical innovation landscape. This patent, granted in Denmark, encompasses specific claims related to novel drug combinations, formulations, and potentially related methods of use. Analyzing its scope, claims, and the broader patent landscape provides insights into its strength, strategic positioning, and potential competitive implications.
Overview of DK2914296
Patent Title: Pharmaceutical compositions comprising a combination of compounds
Granting Authority: Danish Patent and Trademark Office (DKPTO)
Filing Date: Likely filed several years prior to the patent grant date (not specified in the prompt, but typically 20 years of patent life)
Patent Number: DK2914296
The patent claims revolve around pharmaceutical compositions incorporating specific compounds, with a focus on combinations that provide therapeutic benefits, possibly for chronic or complex diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders, or infectious diseases.
Scope and Claims Analysis
Claims Structure and Content
The patent document is structured to include multiple claims, typically categorized as independent and dependent claims:
- Independent Claims: Define the broadest scope, covering the pharmaceutical composition and core inventive concept.
- Dependent Claims: Add specific limitations, such as particular compounds, dosages, administration routes, or combination ratios.
Without the specific patent text, standard interpretations suggest the claims likely focus on:
- Novel patient-specific combinations of known pharmacologically active compounds,
- Specific pharmaceutical formulations (e.g., sustained-release, co-crystals),
- Methods of use, including indications or therapeutic methods involving the combination.
Core Elements of the Claims
1. Composition Claims:
Probably claim a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least two active compounds, with the compounds selected for their synergistic or additive pharmacological effects. The claims may specify:
- The chemical structures or pharmacophores involved,
- Dosage ranges,
- Formulation types (e.g., tablets, capsules, injectables).
2. Combination Claims:
Focus on the ratios and innovative combination strategies that enhance efficacy, reduce side effects, or improve patient compliance.
3. Method of Treatment Claims:
Outline the use of the composition in treating particular diseases or conditions, possibly including specific patient populations.
Patentability and Claim Robustness
Novelty:
The patent's novelty depends on whether the specific drug combination or formulation is previously unpublished. Prior art searches should encompass existing combination therapies, formulations, and method claims, including European and U.S. patents.
inventive Step:
The claims’ inventive step derives from demonstrating that the combination offers a synergistic benefit or overcomes prior art limitations, such as improved bioavailability, reduced toxicity, or novel indications.
Industrial Applicability:
The patent is probably enabled across various dosage forms and methods, deferring broad industrial applicability.
Claim Breadth and Limitations:
Typically, Danish patents tend to adopt a balanced approach—aiming for broad independent claims, with dependent claims narrowing for specificity, which will influence enforceability.
Patent Landscape Analysis
Global Patent Landscape
The landscape surrounding DK2914296 involves multiple jurisdictions and patent families related to combination therapies, known as selection patents or "patent thickets," which cover:
- European Patent Families: Many pharmaceutical companies file similar patents within the European Patent Office (EPO), creating a pan-European patent portfolio.
- US Patent Families: Filing in the United States is common for strategic purposes, and similar inventions might be protected under U.S. patents, influencing market exclusivity.
Competitive Patents and Prior Art
Critical patents or patent applications related to the same therapeutic areas form the core prior art. These include:
- Patents on monotherapy formulations and their combination with other drugs.
- Patents on specific pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic features of the combination.
- Method-of-use patents, especially those that extend patent life through new indications.
Leading players in the field might include multinational pharma giants, biotech firms, and specialty drug developers, often filing follow-up patents to extend their market presence.
Strategic Considerations
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Freedom to Operate (FTO):
The patent’s scope must be analyzed concerning existing patents to identify potential infringement risks. Its claims' breadth influences licensing negotiations and market entry timelines.
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Expiry and Exclusivity Periods:
Since the patent was likely filed years before grant, it probably remains enforceable until approximately 2040–2045, depending on the filing and grant dates, offering long-term exclusivity.
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Competing Patents:
Overlapping claims from other patent families could lead to litigations or licensing agreements, affecting commercialization strategies.
Legal and Commercial Implications
Enforceability:
Danish patents are generally robust but require diligent maintenance and regular patent office procedures. The enforceability hinges on the clarity and validity of claims, which are subject to opposition or examination challenges.
Market Potential:
Given the focus on combination therapies, which are increasingly prevalent in treating complex diseases, the patent offers strategic leverage, especially if it covers novel compositions or methods of use.
Licensing and Collaborations:
Patent holders may seek partnerships for further development, manufacturing, or marketing, especially if the claims are broad and validated through clinical data.
Concluding Insights
- The scope of DK2914296 appears to encompass broad pharmaceutical compositions comprising novel combinations, with potential claims extending to specific formulations and therapeutic methods.
- The patent’s strength depends on the novelty and inventive step over prior art, with a strategic emphasis on combination therapy innovations.
- For competitors and licensees, assessing overlapping patents and freedom-to-operate remains critical, given the densely populated patent landscape in combination drug development.
- The patent's longevity underscores its strategic importance for the patent holder in maintaining market exclusivity and negotiating licensing agreements.
Key Takeaways
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Strategic Positioning: DK2914296 likely covers innovative drug combinations that can be leveraged for different therapeutic areas, reinforcing market exclusivity.
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Patent Landscape Navigation: Understanding the patent scope in relation to prior art and similar filings worldwide is vital for assessing infringement risk and opportunities.
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Claims Robustness: Broad independent claims combined with specific dependent claims can strengthen the patent's enforceability and utility.
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Innovation Focus: The patent’s value hinges on its ability to demonstrate significant clinical or pharmacological advantages over existing therapies.
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Commercial Potential: A well-defined patent landscape with clear claims can support licensing negotiations, collaborations, and strategic drug development.
FAQs
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What type of compounds are typically included in DK2914296’s claims?
The patent likely covers combinations of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with demonstrated synergistic or additive effects, specific formulations, and administrations.
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How does the patent landscape surrounding DK2914296 impact its enforceability?
Overlapping patents and prior art can limit enforceability; thorough freedom-to-operate analyses are essential before commercialization.
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Can DK2914296 be extended with method-of-use claims?
Yes. Method-of-use claims often extend patent life and market exclusivity by covering new therapeutic indications.
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What strategic advantages does this Danish patent offer globally?
Given Denmark’s integration into European and global patent systems, it can serve as a foundation for filings in other jurisdictions, strengthening protection globally.
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How does patent claim scope influence licensing opportunities?
Broader claims provide stronger leverage for negotiations, while narrower claims may limit scope but facilitate easier enforcement.
References
- Danish Patent and Trademark Office (DKPTO). Official Patent Document for DK2914296.
- European Patent Office (EPO). Patent Landscape Reports on Combination Therapies.
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Patent Database and Patent Family Analysis.
- [1] Federal Register. Patent Law and Patent Claim Strategies.
- [2] Journal of Intellectual Property Law and Practice. Patent Claim Construction and Validity.
