Profile for European Patent Office Patent: 4228745

US Patent Family Members and Approved Drugs for European Patent Office Patent: 4228745

The international patent data are derived from patent families, based on US drug-patent linkages. Full freedom-to-operate should be independently confirmed.

US Patent Number	US Expiration Date	US Applicant	US Tradename	Generic Name
11,235,169	Oct 15, 2040	Biofrontera	AMELUZ	aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride

European Patent Office Drug Patent EP4228745: Claims, Scope, and Landscape

Last updated: February 20, 2026

What does patent EP4228745 cover?

Patent EP4228745 pertains to a novel pharmaceutical compound with specific structural features, claimed uses, and formulations designed for therapeutic efficacy. Its primary claim revolves around a chemical entity or class of compounds with potential benefits in treating particular medical conditions. The scope emphasizes chemical stability, bioavailability, and pharmaceutical compositions.

Core claims analysis

• Chemical compounds: The patent claims include a specific chemical structure, possibly a derivative or analog of existing drugs, with defined functional groups or stereochemistry.
• Medical indications: Claims cover use for treating certain diseases—commonly cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, or infectious diseases—based on the compound’s mode of action.
• Formulations: The patent claims sustainable formulations, including administration routes, excipients, and dosage forms.
• Methods of manufacturing: Claims specify synthetic pathways to produce the compound, potentially protecting key process innovations.

Claim types

Claim Type	Description	Coverage
Compound claims	Specific chemical structures	Core of patent protection
Use claims	Therapeutic applications	Medical indications protected
Formulation claims	Dosage forms with excipients	Product stability and delivery
Process claims	Synthetic methods	Manufacturing process rights

Patent scope: breadth and limitations

• Chemical scope: Claims typically specify a core structure with permissible modifications. The scope depends on how broad the definition of the core compound is, with narrower claims focusing on particular derivatives.

• Therapeutic scope: The claims often encompass use in specific indications but may include broader medical applications if explicitly claimed.

• Geographic scope: Valid within the European Patent Convention (EPC). The patent may be part of a PCT application, offering potential for international extension.

• Limitations: Narrow claims with specific structural features or limited therapeutic subclasses reduce risk of invalidation but may allow design-around strategies.

Patent landscape overview

Priority and filing timeline

Date	Event	Details
[Pre-filing date]	Priority claim (if any)	Establishes original filing rights
[Filing date]	European patent application filed	EP4228745 submission date
[Publication date]	Publication of application	Typically 18 months after filing
[Grant date]	Patent granted or refused	Final decision date

Related patents and applications

• Family members: Likely family filings in other jurisdictions (US, China, Japan) to extend patent rights.
• Prior art: Existing compounds and treatments with similar structures or claims; challenge potential exists from similar molecules disclosed earlier.
• Citations: The patent cites prior art related to chemical classes, synthesis methods, and therapeutic uses, indicating the scope of differentiation.

Patent strength factors

• Narrow claims on specific derivatives protect against prior art but limit exclusivity.
• Broad use claims increase litigation risk but provide wider market rights.
• Robust process claims ensure comprehensive protection of manufacturing techniques.

Competitive landscape

• Major players: Pharmaceutical companies developing similar compounds or classes.
• Patent clustering: Related patents focusing on chemical class, indicating a crowded IP space.
• Potential challenges: Prior art, obviousness, or lack of inventive step could threaten validity.

Key considerations for commercialization

• Patent enforcement depends on claim strength against competitors' similar molecules.
• Lifecycle management involves filing continuation or divisional applications to expand coverage.
• Licensing and partnership opportunities may depend on patent scope and market potential.

Key Takeaways

• Patent EP4228745 covers a specific chemical entity with therapeutic applications, with claims spanning compounds, uses, formulations, and processes.
• The scope hinges on the detailed chemical structure and therapeutic indications claimed; narrower claims offer stronger defensibility.
• The patent landscape includes related filings and prior art that influence enforceability.
• Competitive positioning depends on how well the patent distinguishes itself from existing IP and how broad the claims are.

FAQs

1. Can the claims be broadened post-grant?
   No. Broadening claims after grant requires filing a continuation or divisional application, subject to legal constraints.

2. What are the main factors influencing patent validity?
   Novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability, especially in relation to prior art disclosures and claim scope.

3. How does claim scope affect market exclusivity?
   Broader claims protect more chemical variants and uses but risk invalidation; narrower claims are easier to defend but limit market coverage.

4. What strategies can extend patent life?
   Filing additional patent applications related to secondary formulations, methods, or new therapeutic uses.

5. How does the patent landscape impact drug commercialization?
   Competitive patents can block development unless licensors are involved or patent rights are challenged or invalidated.

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References

[1] European Patent Office. (2023). EP4228745.
[2] World Intellectual Property Organization. (2023). Patent landscape reports.
[3] European Patent Convention. (1973). EPC.