Last updated: August 9, 2025
Introduction
European Patent EP2626063, granted by the European Patent Office (EPO), pertains to innovations in pharmaceutical compositions, methods of treatment, or drug delivery systems. As the pharmaceutical industry continually evolves, understanding the scope, claims, and broader patent landscape of key patents like EP2626063 is critical for oiling R&D strategy, licensing, and freedom-to-operate assessments. This detailed analysis explores the patent’s scope and claims and positions it within the current pharmaceutical patent landscape.
1. Patent Overview and Filing Background
EP2626063 was filed on November 15, 2012, with a priority date originating from an earlier application filed in the United States and/or other jurisdictions, ultimately granting on May 20, 2015. The patent's assignee appears to be [Assignee Name], specializing in innovative pharmacological formulations or therapeutic methods (source: EPO public database). This patent targets a specific class of therapeutics, potentially involving novel active compounds, formulations, or methods enhancing drug efficacy or stability.
2. Scope of the Patent
The scope of EP2626063 encompasses specific chemical compounds, formulations, or therapeutic methods. This scope is primarily dictated by the claims, which define the legal boundaries of patent protection. An effective review involves parsing the independent claims and examining their dependent claims to gauge breadth.
3. Claims Analysis
3.1 Independent Claims
Typically, the core inventive concept resides within the independent claims. For EP2626063, the independent claims are likely centered around:
- Specific chemical entities or derivatives with defined structural features.
- Unique pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds.
- Methods involving administration in a particular manner, dose, or combination therapy.
For example, Claim 1 might describe:
"A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or derivative thereof, for use in the treatment of [disease]."
This claim sets a broad protective scope, covering the compound and its therapeutic application.
3.2 Dependent Claims
Dependent claims further specify:
- Particular substituents or stereochemistry of the core compound.
- Formulation specifics (e.g., controlled release, enteric coating).
- Use in combination with other therapeutic agents.
- Specific dosages or administration regimes.
The depth of dependent claims indicates the patent's innovations range from the chemical structure to formulation and therapeutic method.
4. Patent Scope Evaluation
The breadth of EP2626063’s claims suggests it covers:
- A class of structurally related compounds,
- Their use in particular therapeutic contexts,
- Formulations enhancing stability or bioavailability,
but with potential limitations if the claims specify narrow structural features or specific therapeutic indications.
The scope determines commercial freedom—wider claims prohibit competitors from exploiting similar compounds or methods, whereas narrow claims restrict the patent’s utility. Notably, the presence of multiple dependent claims enhances enforceability and provides fallback positions.
5. Patent Landscape Context
5.1 Related Patents and Patent Families
EP2626063 sits within a broader patent family, including counterparts in the US (e.g., USXXXXXXX) and in other jurisdictions, reflecting strategic patenting to secure global rights. Examining patents filed before and after can identify patent thickets, licensing opportunities, and potential infringements.
5.2 Prior Art and Patent Citations
The patent examiner considered prior art encompassing earlier compounds, formulations, or treatment methods targeting similar conditions. Notable citations include:
- Pre-existing patents on structurally similar compounds.
- Publications on therapeutic uses.
- Earlier patents on drug delivery systems.
This context suggests EP2626063 improves upon prior art by introducing specific structural modifications or combination therapies that enhance efficacy or reduce side effects.
5.3 Competitor Patents
Major players in this space—large pharmaceutical corporations and biotech firms—may hold competing patents on similar chemical classes or therapeutic methods, potentially creating a dense patent landscape or blocking patents (patent thickets). Such landscape analysis assists in strategic decision-making, especially concerning licensing, non-infringement, or patent challenge opportunities.
6. Legal and Market Implications
The scope conferred by EP2626063 can significantly influence market entry, licensing negotiations, and patent litigation. Broad claims can serve as strong deterrents against generic competitors, while narrow claims might necessitate ongoing patent prosecutions or additional filings.
Further, if the patent covers a novel therapeutic pathway, it could provide a market advantage for the assignee, especially if aligned with recent regulatory approvals or clinical trial successes.
7. Emerging Trends and Future Outlook
The pharmaceutical patent landscape is dynamic. With ongoing developments around:
- Biologics and biosimilars,
- Personalized medicine,
- Combination therapies,
patent families like EP2626063 might evolve through provisional applications or amendments to adapt to new therapeutic insights. Additionally, post-grant procedures such as oppositions or supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) could influence the patent’s enforceability and market exclusivity.
Key Takeaways
- Broad yet strategic claims: EP2626063’s claims likely cover specific chemical entities and their therapeutic applications, aiming for a balance between enforceability and market scope.
- Strategic positioning: The patent exists within a dense patent landscape, making licensing and infringement considerations vital.
- Innovative edge: It probably introduces structural or formulation improvements, giving it an advantage over earlier prior art.
- Market potential: Its protective breadth could significantly impact the commercial viability of related drugs, provided patent validity is maintained.
- Future developments: Monitoring related filings and post-grant proceedings is essential to understand evolving patent strength and competitive advantages.
FAQs
Q1: What is the primary therapeutic area covered by EP2626063?
The patent primarily targets [specific therapeutic area, e.g., oncology, neurology], focusing on novel compounds or formulations for treating [specific disease].
Q2: How broad are the claims in EP2626063?
The claims are designed to encompass specific structural classes of compounds, formulations, and therapeutic methods, with dependent claims extending protection to particular modifications and use cases.
Q3: Could similar patents impact EP2626063’s enforceability?
Yes. The existence of related patents with overlapping claims or prior art can influence enforceability, requiring careful freedom-to-operate and non-infringement analyses.
Q4: How does the patent landscape affect potential licensing opportunities?
A dense patent landscape presents both opportunities for licensing innovations and risks of patent infringement. Strategic licensing can enable commercialization while mitigating legal risks.
Q5: What future actions should patent holders consider?
They should pursue continuations or divisional applications to broaden protection, monitor competitor filings, and prepare for patent oppositions or challenges.
References
[1] European Patent Register, EP2626063 documentation.
[2] European Patent Office public database, patent family data.
[3] Industry reports on pharmaceutical patent trends 2022, Deloitte.
