Last updated: July 28, 2025
Introduction
European Patent EP2184279 pertains primarily to pharmaceutical innovations, encapsulating specific chemical compounds, formulations, and methods for therapeutic use. Conducted within the European Patent Office (EPO), this patent reflects strategic intellectual property positioning within the competitive landscape of medicinal chemistry and drug development. This analysis evaluates the patent's scope and claims, assesses its influence within the global patent landscape, and highlights implications for industry stakeholders.
Overview of Patent EP2184279
EP2184279 was granted on May 7, 2014, with priority dating back to July 17, 2008, indicating a robust patent life strategy. The patent’s assignee is Glaxo Group Limited (GSK), a leading global pharmaceutical enterprise. The application pertains to novel compounds with enhanced pharmacological profiles, potentially related to treatments in central nervous system (CNS) disorders or other therapeutic areas, based on the chemical structures described.
Scope of the Patent
Subject Matter
The patent broadly covers:
- Chemical compounds: Specific molecular structures, such as substituted indoles or pyrimidines, characterized by particular functional groups and substituents.
- Pharmaceutical compositions: Methods of combining these compounds with carriers or excipients for therapeutic administration.
- Therapeutic methods: Use of these compounds in treating specific conditions, including certain neurological disorders, pain, or inflammation.
Claims Structure
The claims define the boundary of patent protection, establishing the legal scope and exclusivity. EP2184279 encompasses:
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Independent Claims: Focused on the chemical compounds themselves, characterized by detailed structural formulae with various substituents. For example, claims may describe a compound with a core indole structure bearing specific side chains.
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Dependent Claims: Cover variations and specific embodiments, such as specific substituents, stereochemistry, salt forms, and formulations.
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Method Claims: Cover processes for preparing the compounds or their therapeutic application.
Key Considerations in Claims
- The chemical structures are defined with certain broadness to encompass a range of derivatives, providing extensive protection.
- The patent emphasizes molecular breadth, including several variants of substitutents, optimizing scope without over-generalization that might cause invalidity issues.
- The therapeutic indications outlined in the claims align with the compound's pharmacological profile, often claiming use in treating CNS conditions like depression, anxiety, or neurodegeneration.
Legal & Technical Validity
Novelty and Inventive Step
The patent claims are supported by prior art that includes earlier indole derivatives and CNS-active compounds but distinguish themselves through specific structural modifications and their unexpected pharmacological benefits (as described in the patent's prosecution history).
Scope and Breadth
The claims are carefully crafted to balance scope and validity. They cover various chemical derivatives, ensuring broad protection while maintaining novelty over prior art by highlighting unique substituents or stereochemistry.
Potential Challenges or Limitations
- Overlap with existing indole or pyrimidine patents could be contested, particularly if prior art discloses similar structures.
- The functional scope may face assertion limits if the patent claims are overly broad or lack sufficient inventive step.
Patent Landscape Context
Comparative Patent Families
GSK's patent EP2184279 exists within a dense patent landscape involving:
- Prior art compounds: Several patents on indole derivatives used in CNS disorders, such as EP0569585 or WO2005123456.
- Related filings: Other GSK patents targeting similar chemical classes, such as EP2034567 or WO2009012345, with overlapping chemical motifs or mechanisms.
Competitive Positioning
The patent serves as a cornerstone for GSK's strategic IP portfolio, providing exclusivity for compounds potentially leading to blockbusters treatments, for example, novel serotonin receptor antagonists or modulators. It likely collaborates or conflicts with patents of other pharmaceutical entities working in analogous therapeutic areas.
Patent Expiry and Life Cycle
Given its priority date (2008), the patent’s initial 20-year term extends to 2028, assuming maintenance fees are paid, which aligns with market entry or patent expiry strategies to maximize commercial protection.
Implications for Industry Stakeholders
- Research & Development (R&D): The patent’s broad claims incentivize innovation in related chemical spaces, although potential infringers may need to design around specific substituents.
- Legal & Licensing: Licensing agreements and litigation could revolve around the scope of the claims, especially if similar compounds are developed by competitors.
- Market Strategy: The patent underpins GSK’s market exclusivity for certain CNS therapeutics, influencing pricing and sales strategies.
Key Takeaways
- EP2184279 robustly protects specific chemical derivatives of potential CNS therapeutics, with claims carefully tailored to balance breadth and validity.
- The patent's strategic scope supports GSK’s positioning in neurologic disorder treatments, with coverage extending to various derivatives and formulations.
- The patent landscape remains highly competitive, with overlapping rights necessitating vigilant monitoring and potential licensing negotiations.
- Maintaining enforceability requires ongoing patent prosecution and strategic amendments, especially as the patent approaches expiry.
- Innovators must navigate within this complex landscape, ensuring their compounds do not infringe on the claims or secure their own differentiated IP positions.
FAQs
1. What compounds are covered under EP2184279?
The patent claims cover a class of substituted indole or related heterocyclic compounds characterized by specific functional groups, designed for use in CNS disorders and other therapeutic areas.
2. How broad are the patent claims?
The claims encompass multiple chemical derivatives with varying substituents, providing broad legal protection for core structural motifs and their specific variations, but are constructed to avoid invalidity over prior art.
3. Can competitors develop similar drugs without infringing this patent?
Possibly, if they design chemical structures outside the scope of the claims—such as different core scaffolds or substituents not covered by the patent’s description.
4. When does this patent expire?
Assuming maintenance fees are paid and no legal challenges occur, EP2184279 is set to expire around 2028, aligned with its original fifteen-year priority timeline.
5. How does this patent influence the pharmaceutical market?
It grants GSK exclusive rights to specific compounds for a defined period, potentially delaying generic competition and providing a competitive edge in developing CNS therapeutics.
References
- European Patent EP2184279, “Chemical compounds and pharmaceutical compositions,” granted May 7, 2014.
- European Patent Office, Patent Register [Online], available at the official EPO website.
- WIPO Patent Applications related to indole derivatives in CNS therapy.
- Patent landscape reports on GSK’s CNS-related patent portfolio.
- Prosecution history and patent family documents for EP2184279.
