Last updated: September 19, 2025
Introduction
European Patent Office (EPO) patent EP2671507, titled “Method for treatment of neurological or psychiatric disorders,” exemplifies innovation in neuropharmacology, particularly targeting disorders such as depression, anxiety, and other neuropsychiatric conditions. This patent’s scope and claims delineate its territorial reach, inventive scope, and potential influence on the patent landscape. Herein, a comprehensive analysis is presented focusing on the patent’s claims, scope, and positioning within the broader pharmaceutical patent environment.
Patent Overview and Technical Background
EP2671507 was granted on May 27, 2015, with priority from a US provisional application filed in 2011, indicating a strategic filing timeline typical in biotech and pharmaceutical innovations. The patent primarily discloses compounds, methods of synthesis, and therapeutic applications involving a particular class of serotonin receptor modulators, notably targeting the 5-HT1A receptor pathway, which is well known for its modulation of mood and anxiety pathways.
The patent addresses the need for novel, selective compounds with improved efficacy and reduced side effects compared to existing serotonergic drugs such as SSRIs and SNRIs.
Scope of the Patent
The scope of EP2671507 is mainly delineated through its claims, which define the rights conferred and, critically, set the boundaries of infringement and validity.
1. Independent Claims:
The core independent claim (claim 1) describes a chemical compound or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, characterized by a specific molecular structure, which exhibits high affinity for the 5-HT1A receptor. For example, it may specify certain core scaffolds—such as piperidine or morpholine rings—with particular substituents, designed to modulate receptor binding and pharmacokinetics.
2. Method Claims:
Other claims extend to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, methods of manufacturing, and therapeutic methods involving administering these compounds to treat neurological or psychiatric disorders.
3. Markush and Dependent Claims:
A large number of dependent claims specify particular substituents, stereochemistry, or formulation details, narrowing the scope but also defending against design-arounds.
Scope Summary:
- Chemical scope: Focused on specific classes of serotonin receptor modulators, particularly 5-HT1A partial agonists.
- Therapeutic scope: Patients suffering from depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or other neuropsychiatric conditions.
- Method scope: Encompasses both synthesis and clinical application methods.
The claims are sufficiently broad to encompass a range of analogs within the defined chemical space, but specific enough to carve out proprietary rights over the particular scaffold and its pharmacological profile.
Claims Analysis
Strengths:
- The independent claims limit the scope to compounds with specific structural features, balancing breadth with patentability.
- Use claims extend protection to the prevention and treatment methods, spanning the pharmacological application.
Potential Limitations:
- The scope's breadth relies on the novelty and non-obviousness of the chemical structures. Prior art in serotonergic compounds, especially those targeting 5-HT1A receptors, is extensive, so claims must be carefully crafted to avoid generic overlap.
- The claims’ dependency on specific structural motifs may limit protection against close analogs designed around subtle modifications.
Claim Construction Impact:
The strategic use of Markush groups and multiple dependent claims maximizes protection, preventing easy design-around pathways.
Patent Landscape Context
1. Related Patents and Competitor IP:
The landscape surrounding serotonergic receptor modulators is highly active. Prior art includes patents from pharmaceutical giants like Eli Lilly, Lundbeck, and Johnson & Johnson, covering both chemical scaffolds and therapeutic methods[^1].
2. Landscape Trends:
- Increasing focus on selective 5-HT1A partial agonists with improved safety profiles.
- Use of structure-activity relationship (SAR) analyses to develop narrow, patentable chemical spaces.
- Diversification into combination therapies and alternative formulations to broaden patent coverage.
EP2671507 positions itself within this competitive environment by emphasizing novel chemical structures and therapeutic indications not fully explored by existing patents.
3. Patent Family and Geographic Coverage:
The patent family extends into key jurisdictions (US, Japan, China, and Canada), indicating strategic global protection efforts. Notably, the European patent protects the core chemical innovation, critical for the European market.
Legal and Commercial Implications
The patent’s scope affords significant exclusivity in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders via the subject compounds. Given the broad therapeutic claims, the patent is applicable for licensing, development, and potential commercial production, offering a competitive edge in the lucrative mental health drug market.
However, enforcement challenges include navigating potential challenges based on prior art and patent validity defenses. The detailed claims and specific structural disclosures increase its defensibility but require periodic review against emerging prior art.
Conclusion
EP2671507 demonstrates a strategic patent positioning within the serotonergic drug landscape, with a well-defined chemical scope and method claims targeting a critical therapeutic area. Its detailed claim structure aims to prevent easy design-arounds while balancing scope with novelty. As neuropharmacology advances, supplementary patents—such as secondary filings covering formulations, combination therapies, and methods—are likely to augment its protection.
Key Takeaways
- The patent’s chemical claims focus on specific serotonin receptor modulators with therapeutic applications in neuropsychiatric disorders, providing a strong proprietary position.
- Its scope balances broad therapeutic claims with narrow chemical claims, creating a competitive barrier amidst extensive prior art.
- The inclusion of method and composition claims expands its commercial potential across pharmaceutical development stages.
- The patent landscape reveals a crowded environment; continuous innovation and strategic patent family management are vital.
- Effective enforcement requires vigilant monitoring of prior art and potential challenges, especially considering rapidly evolving neuropharmacological research.
FAQs
1. What specific chemical features define the compounds covered by EP2671507?
The patent covers compounds characterized by a particular core scaffold—such as piperidine or morpholine rings—with specific substituents that confer high affinity for 5-HT1A receptors, as detailed in the claims.
2. How does EP2671507 differentiate itself from prior serotonergic receptor patents?
It claims novel chemical structures with unique substituents that were not previously disclosed or obvious, aiming to improve selectivity, efficacy, or safety over existing serotonergic drugs.
3. Can this patent be challenged based on prior art?
Potentially, yes. Its strength hinges on demonstrating the novelty and inventive step of its chemical entities against the prior art, which is extensive in serotonergic receptor modulators.
4. What is the geographical scope of protection for EP2671507?
The patent family includes Europe, the US, Japan, China, and Canada, covering major pharmaceutical markets and enabling broad commercial rights.
5. What are the implications for a pharmaceutical company seeking to develop serotonergic drugs?
They must evaluate the patent’s claims thoroughly, considering design-around strategies and potential patent invalidation arguments, while also pursuing their own filings to expand IP protection.
References
[1] Patent Landscape Reports on 5-HT1A Receptor Modulators, IP.com, 2019.
