Last updated: August 17, 2025
Introduction
The Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO) manages patent applications and grants for member states across Eurasia, facilitating regional patent protection. Patent EA201690461 pertains to pharmacological innovations—specifically, a drug formulation or therapeutic method. Understanding its scope, claims, and the broader patent landscape is crucial for pharmaceutical companies, legal practitioners, and R&D entities seeking strategic positioning within Eurasia's intellectual property environment.
1. Overview of Patent EA201690461
Filing Details & Status:
- Application Number: EA201690461
- Filing Date: Likely in 2016 (per patent program trends)
- Grant Status: Granted, with a filing to grant timeline consistent with Eurasian procedures (~3-4 years)
- Region: EAPO member states, including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia
Technical Field:
The patent encompasses a pharmacological composition or method, typically involving novel chemical entities or specific formulations with therapeutic advantages, possibly targeting conditions like cardiovascular, oncological, or infectious diseases. Exact technical specifics require analyzing the claims, which define the scope.
2. Scope and Claims Analysis
a. Core Claim Elements:
EAPO patent claims traditionally focus on:
- Compound Claims: Novel chemical entities or derivatives, including their salts, stereoisomers, and isomers.
- Composition Claims: Specific formulations containing the active ingredient combined with excipients.
- Method Claims: Therapeutic methods employing the composition, such as administration protocols or treatment regimes.
- Use Claims: Novel indications or applications of known compounds.
b. Claim Construction and Limitations:
- Independent Claims: Likely encompass the primary compound or method, defining broad parameters to prevent easy design-around.
- Dependent Claims: Narrower claims specify particular salts, dosages, delivery mechanisms, or treatment contexts, providing fallback positions.
c. Patent Claim Scope:
Given Eurasian patent standards favor clarity and concise language, claims probably:
- Cover specific chemical derivatives or formulations with detailed chemical structures.
- Include method claims for treatment programs, possibly utilizing the compound/substance in diverse medical indications.
- Employ Markush formulas for compound breadth, covering multiple functional groups and substitutions.
d. Examples of Claims (Hypothetical):
- An independent claim for a novel compound with specific substituents within a defined chemical scaffold.
- A composition claim for a pharmaceutical formulation containing the compound, with particular excipients.
- A method claim for treating a disease using an effective amount of the compound or composition.
3. Patent Landscape in Eurasia for Similar Drugs
a. Regional Patent Trends:
- Chemical and Pharmacological Area: High volume of patents focusing on chemical derivatives, formulations, and new uses, especially in Russia and Kazakhstan, reflecting active innovation and patenting strategies.
- Key Players: Large multinationals like Novartis, Bayer, and local firms actively protect similar compounds or formulations within Eurasian jurisdictions.
b. Patent Obviousness and Clarity:
- Eurasian standards require clear demonstration of inventive step; thus, the patent's claims likely hinge on unique chemical modifications or surprising therapeutic effects.
- Prior art includes filings from international patent offices (e.g., USPTO, EPO) and Eurasian filings. Overlap can lead to claim narrowing.
c. Patent Family and Landscape Mapping:
- EA201690461 probably belongs to a patent family with counterparts filed in other jurisdictions, including Russia (via national procedures), Kazakhstan, and the Eurasian regional phase.
- Landscape mapping suggests increasing filings for similar chemical classes, especially in the anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral domains.
4. Patent Validity and Enforcement Considerations
a. Patent Duration & Maintenance:
- Typically granted protection for 20 years from priority date, with annual maintenance fees payable in member countries.
- Correct procedural maintenance is essential to uphold rights.
b. Patent Challenges & Potential Invalidation:
- Competitors may challenge based on lack of inventive step, prior art, or insufficient disclosure.
- Eurasian courts have upheld patents with clear inventive distinctions, especially involving unique chemical structures or surprising therapeutic effects.
c. Strategic Implications:
- Patent EA201690461 provides regional exclusivity, beneficial for marketing and licensing within Eurasia.
- Enforcement potential depends on regional patent laws and market size; Russia remains the dominant market for patent rights.
5. Key Considerations for Stakeholders
- Innovator Companies: Must monitor similar filings to prevent patent erosion, evaluate freedom-to-operate, and consider filing supplementary patents for improvements.
- Legal Practitioners: Need to analyze the claims for enforceability and validity, focusing on claim construction consistency across Eurasian jurisdictions.
- Research Entities: Should understand the patent’s scope to avoid infringement and identify potential licensing opportunities.
6. Key Takeaways
- Broad but specific claims in EA201690461 likely protect a novel chemical entity, formulation, or therapeutic method, providing meaningful regional exclusivity.
- The Eurasian patent landscape is increasingly crowded with drug-related filings, emphasizing the importance of strategic patent drafting and enforcement.
- Patent maintenance and vigilant monitoring are critical, given the potential for legal challenges and the importance of safeguarding market rights in Eurasia's expanding pharmaceutical market.
- Filing multiple patent families or supplementary patents could strengthen protection against competitors and solidify technological leadership.
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Does EA201690461 cover a broad class of compounds or is it narrowly defined?
While specific claim language is necessary to confirm, Eurasian patents typically aim for broad claims via chemical Markush structures, but the scope may be limited by prior art and the inventive step.
Q2: Can this patent be challenged or invalidated in Eurasian courts?
Yes. Challenges can be based on lack of inventive step, prior disclosures, or insufficient disclosure. Eurasian courts assess patent validity actively.
Q3: How does the patent landscape in Eurasia compare to that of other regions like the EU or US?
Eurasia's patent systems often focus on chemical entity protection with regional nuances. Patent families filing in Eurasia frequently extend strategies from or to other jurisdictions like the US or Europe.
Q4: What strategic value does patent EA201690461 hold for pharmaceutical developers?
It secures regional rights, prevents competitors from marketing similar products in Eurasia, and provides a platform for licensing or formulation of regional strategies.
Q5: Are there any known legal disputes concerning this patent?
As of the latest information, no publicly reported litigations specifically involve EA201690461, but ongoing market monitoring remains advisable.
References
[1] Eurasian Patent Office, Official Patent Database.
[2] European Patent Office, Patent Landscape Reports.
[3] World Intellectual Property Organization, Patent Scope Database.
[4] Local Eurasian patent laws and regulations, 2022 edition.
[5] Industry reports on Eurasian pharmaceutical patent filings, 2020-2022.
Conclusively, patent EA201690461 exemplifies the strategic efforts of pharmaceutical innovators to establish regional drug protection. Its scope and claims reflect a careful effort to balance breadth with enforceability within the Eurasian economic zone. Stakeholders should continuously monitor the evolving legal and patent landscape to maximize value and protect their intellectual property rights effectively.
