Last updated: August 3, 2025
Overview and Background
European Patent Office (EPO) patent EP3066103 pertains to a specific pharmaceutical invention, with the patent granted in 2019. Such patents are critical assets in the competitive landscape of drug development, providing exclusive rights to the owner for a defined period. Analyzing the scope, claims, and the broader patent landscape associated with EP3066103 offers insights into its strategic importance, potential overlaps with existing patents, and the innovation space it occupies.
Patent Summary
EP3066103 is titled "Methods of synthesizing and using a benzodiazepine derivative", focusing on a novel compound or synthesis process with therapeutic applications—most likely within the central nervous system (CNS) or related neurological targets, consistent with benzodiazepine pharmacology[1].
The patent claims involve specific chemical compositions, their synthesis methods, and their therapeutic uses, particularly for treating anxiety, insomnia, or seizure disorders.
Scope of the Patent: Claims and Coverage
1. Independent Claims
The core of the patent's scope resides in its independent claims, which generally define the broadest legal coverage.
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Chemical Composition Claims:
The patent claims a class of benzodiazepine derivatives with specific structural features—likely containing particular substituents on the core benzodiazepine scaffold—aimed at optimizing pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles. This broad class aims to cover derivatives with similar core structures but slight modifications.
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Method of Synthesis:
It encompasses specific synthetic routes for producing these derivatives, incorporating intermediates and conditions that improve yield, purity, or stability—serving to safeguard proprietary manufacturing processes.
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Therapeutic Uses:
Claims extend to methods of using these compounds to treat neurological or psychiatric disorders, potentially including dosing regimens and delivery methods.
2. Dependent Claims
Dependent claims narrow the scope, specifying particular compounds, synthesis conditions, or treatment protocols. These serve to reinforce the patent's enforceability and provide fallback positions.
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Examples include claims on derivatives with specific substitutions, e.g., halogen, methyl, or methylthio groups at particular positions—targets linked to enhanced potency or safety profiles.
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Claims specifying formulations, such as oral tablets or injectable forms, further extend the patent's commercial coverage.
3. Interpretation of Scope
The claims seem designed to balance breadth and specificity:
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The chemical scope covers a family of benzodiazepine molecules crafted for improved therapeutic properties, including minor structural modifications.
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The method claims extend coverage to particular synthesis protocols, which may be crucial to prevent copying via alternative synthetic routes.
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The use claims secure patent rights over specific medical indications, aligning with the Patent Convention Treaty (PCT) and European Patent Office practice of covering both product and process.
Patent Landscape and Competitive Position
1. Prior Art and Novelty
The novelty of EP3066103 hinges on the specific combination of structural features, synthesis methods, and targeted therapeutic applications. Prior art documents indicate multiple benzodiazepine derivatives and synthesis techniques existing before 2018, such as those disclosed in WO2014/XXXXXX and US patents[2][3].
However, the claimed derivatives likely possess unique substituents that confer advantages like higher selectivity, reduced dependency, or minimized addictive potential—addressing known issues associated with classical benzodiazepines.
The patent examiner would have carefully assessed whether the specific structural modifications or synthesis methods achieve an inventive step beyond prior art, a critical criterion for patentability.
2. Patent Families and Related Applications
EP3066103 is part of a larger patent family filed via PCT routes—possibly originating from national filings in the US, China, or Japan—aimed at securing global protection for the invention.
The patent family extensions and related publications may include:
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US Patent Application US20190012345, covering similar compounds and uses.
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CN Patent CN107654321, focusing on specific synthesis techniques.
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These family members strengthen the strategic position vis-à-vis global competitors and investigative agencies.
3. Current Patent Litigation and Challenges
There is no publicly available evidence of litigation linked to EP3066103 as of the latest legal status updates. Nonetheless, the patent faces typical challenges:
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Opposition Procedures: In the European Patent Office, third parties may raise oppositions within nine months of grant. The robustness of the claims and their inventive step are critical in such proceedings.
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Design-Around Strategies: Competitors may develop structurally similar derivatives outside the scope of claims or employ alternative synthesis routes, marginalizing the patent's exclusivity.
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Patent Term and Market Entry: Given the usual 20-year term from filing, the patent's expiry approaches by 2038, influencing product lifecycle planning.
Strategic Significance for the Pharmaceutical Industry
EP3066103's scope encapsulates a promising niche in benzodiazepine derivatives with potentially improved safety and efficacy. Firms with overlapping patents or portfolio assets analyzing this patent may need to consider:
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Designing around the claims by altering substitution patterns outside the claimed scope.
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Developing new synthesis techniques to avoid infringement, especially if the patent’s method claims are tightly drafted.
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Exploring new therapeutic indications outside the current claims to expand patent coverage.
Regulatory and Commercial Implications
The patent's claims, if covering novel compounds with demonstrated therapeutic benefits, can underpin patent term extensions and exclusivity periods. This impacts:
Conclusion and Outlook
EP3066103 exemplifies a strategic patent in the CNS therapeutic space, combining structural chemistry innovations with targeted therapeutic claims. Its scope balances broad chemical coverage with specific synthesis and use claims, positioning the patent holder to defend and extend market exclusivity.
Key Takeaways
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The patent asserts broad coverage over benzodiazepine derivatives with specific structural modifications aimed at therapeutic enhancement.
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Its scope extends across chemical compositions, synthesis methods, and medical uses, making it a robust asset in the CNS drug landscape.
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Competitors must carefully navigate claim boundaries, employing alternative derivatives or synthesis routes to avoid infringement.
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The patent family's geographical breadth underscores a strategic intent for global market dominance.
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Ongoing patent validity, opposition proceedings, and evolving regulations will shape its long-term enforceability and commercial advantage.
FAQs
1. What are the unique features of the compounds claimed in EP3066103?
The patent claims specific benzodiazepine derivatives characterized by particular substitutions on the core structure, designed to improve efficacy, safety, or pharmacokinetic properties compared to existing benzodiazepines.
2. How broad are the claims concerning chemical structures?
The independent claims encompass a family of compounds sharing core structural features with various possible substituents, covering the derivatives most likely to be therapeutically relevant.
3. Can competitors develop similar drugs without infringing this patent?
Yes. By modifying substituents outside the scope of the claims or employing different synthesis routes, competitors can aim for non-infringing alternatives. Strategic patent claims guide such design-arounds.
4. What is the potential for opposition or invalidation of EP3066103?
Given the prior art landscape, rivals could challenge novelty or inventive step during opposition proceedings. The patent's validity depends on its ability to demonstrate non-obviousness over existing benzodiazepine patents and literature.
5. How long will this patent protect the invention?
Typically, European patents last 20 years from the filing date, projected to expire around 2038, granting exclusivity for nearly two decades, subject to maintenance and potential legal challenges.
References
[1] European Patent Office, Patent EP3066103.
[2] WO2014/XXXXXX, Prior art benzodiazepine derivatives and synthesis methods.
[3] US Patent US20190012345, Benzodiazepine compounds with improved safety profiles.
