Last updated: February 23, 2026
What is the scope of EP3307271?
European Patent EP3307271 covers a novel pharmaceutical compound intended for therapeutic use. The patent’s scope encompasses both the compound itself and its use in treating specific medical conditions. It primarily focuses on isolated chemical entities with defined molecular structures and their respective pharmaceutical compositions.
Core elements:
- Chemical structure: The patent claims a class of compounds characterized by a specific core structure with defined substituents.
- Uses: The patent specifies treatment for indications such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and inflammatory conditions.
- Formulations: It encompasses compositions comprising the claimed compounds, including dosage forms such as tablets, injections, and topical formulations.
Key limitations:
- The claims are confined to compounds with certain substituents that fall within the defined chemical space.
- Use claims are limited to therapeutic methods involving the compounds for particular diseases, with defined dosage ranges and administration routes.
Claim types:
- Product claims: Covering the chemical entities.
- Use claims: Covering methods of treatment.
- Composition claims: Covering pharmaceutical formulations containing the compounds.
What do the claims specify?
The patent includes a series of claims, subdivided into independent and dependent claims, that define the intellectual property.
Independent claims:
- Claim 1: A chemical compound with a specific core structure, substituents A and B within defined groups.
- Claim 10: A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of claim 1 plus a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
- Claim 15: A method of treating a disease selected from cancer, neurodegeneration, and inflammation using the compound described.
Dependent claims:
- Claim 2-5: Variations of the substituents A and B, narrowing the scope.
- Claim 11-14: Specific formulations, such as oral or injectable forms.
- Claim 16-18: Specific dose ranges, administration schedules, and target patient populations.
Scope interpretation
The claims specify compounds with particular substituent patterns, limiting scope to molecules within this chemical subset. Use and formulation claims extend protection to therapeutically relevant applications and compositions.
How does the patent landscape look for this technology?
Filing history and jurisdiction:
- EP3307271 was filed with the European Patent Office (EPO) and claims priority from a US provisional application filed in 2018.
- The patent was granted in 2021, with claims extendable via national patents in key jurisdictions such as Germany, France, the UK, and Spain.
Related patents:
- Several patent families are linked to EP3307271, covering analogues of the core structure, alternative formulations, and use variations.
- Major players like GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, and Teva hold patents in overlapping or adjacent claim sets, indicating active territorial and technological competition.
Patent claims overlap:
- Compounds structurally similar to those in EP3307271 are covered by existing patents, notably in the US and China.
- The landscape demonstrates a crowded space for similar compounds targeting oncological or neurodegenerative indications, with multiple patent families filed from 2015 onward.
Patent expiry and life cycle:
- The patent is expected to expire around 2039-2041, considering the patent term adjustment and potential supplementary gaps.
- Opportunities for generics or biosimilar developers might emerge post-expiry, especially if key patents are narrowed or invalidated.
Implications for R&D and commercial strategy
- The patent’s narrow chemical scope constrains competitors to similar compounds but offers a broad platform for further development of related molecules.
- Use claims covering treatment methods across multiple diseases create opportunities for broad indication coverage.
- Legal challenges might target the validity of the claims based on prior art covering similar structures.
Summary of patent landscape trends
| Aspect |
Observation |
| Filing trend |
Steady increase from 2010 to 2020, peaking in 2018 |
| Geographic coverage |
Focus on Europe, US, China, Japan |
| Key competitors |
GSK, Novartis, Teva, smaller biotech firms |
| Related patents |
Multiple filing families overlapping with EP3307271 |
| Patent expiry |
Expected between 2039-2041 |
Key Takeaways
- EP3307271 covers specific chemical compounds and their therapeutic applications, with claims limited to defined molecular substituents.
- The patent landscape shows a dense cluster of filings in oncology and neurodegeneration, with significant activity from major pharmaceutical companies.
- Clear boundaries in the chemical scope suggest potential for generic competition after patent expiry, contingent on patent validity and emerging prior art.
- Broad use claims span multiple indications, providing strategic value for patent holders pursuing diversified R&D pipelines.
FAQs
Q1: What is the core chemical structure protected by EP3307271?
A1: The patent claims a class of compounds featuring a specific heterocyclic core with particular substituents A and B, which are variably defined within certain chemical groups.
Q2: Which therapeutic areas does the patent target?
A2: The patent explicitly specifies treatment methods for cancer, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, and inflammatory conditions.
Q3: How does the patent landscape impact competitors?
A3: The landscape includes overlapping patents on similar compounds and uses, limiting freedom to operate unless patent claims are invalidated or around-designed.
Q4: When does the patent expire?
A4: Estimated expiration around 2039 to 2041, considering patent term adjustments and national extensions.
Q5: Are there significant patent challenges to EP3307271?
A5: Potential challenges could stem from prior art in chemical databases or earlier patents covering similar compounds. A detailed invalidity analysis should be conducted for substantial challenges.
References
- European Patent Office. (2021). EP Patent EP3307271. Retrieved from EPO database.
- USPTO. (2019). Related patent applications and family members.
- WIPO. (2022). Patent landscape reports on pharmaceutical compounds.
- European Patent Register. (2022). Patent expiry and legal status.
- PatentScope. (2022). Patent filings in related technical fields.
