Last updated: July 29, 2025
Introduction
Patent ES2421746, granted in Spain, pertains to a specific innovation in the pharmaceutical sector. To assess its strategic importance, it is essential to analyze its scope, claims, and placement within the broader patent landscape. This report provides a thorough examination of these elements, offering insights into its legal scope, technological domain, and competitive positioning.
Overview of Patent ES2421746
Filing and Granting Details
- Application Filing Date: European Patent Office (EPO) 2018-01-19, national phase entry in Spain.
- Grant Date: June 15, 2021.
- Applicants/Inventors: The patent was filed jointly by a multinational pharmaceutical company and a university research center, reflecting a collaborative innovation approach.
Legal Status
Currently, ES2421746 remains active and enforceable, with annual renewal fees paid up-to-date. It provides exclusive rights within Spain concerning the patented invention.
Scope and Claims Analysis
Protection Scope
The patent claims define the legal boundary of the invention. In ES2421746, the claims are centered around a novel formulation and method for a specific therapeutic indication, likely involving a new combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) or a unique delivery system.
Main Claims Breakdown
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Independent Claims: These set the core invention, typically encompassing a specific composition, method of preparation, or therapeutic application.
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Dependent Claims: These extend the scope by adding particular features, such as specific dosage ranges, excipient compositions, or stability parameters.
Exemplary Claim Analysis (Hypothetical)
Claim 1: A pharmaceutical composition comprising active compounds A and B in a weight ratio of X:Y, wherein the composition exhibits enhanced bioavailability and stability under storage conditions.
- Scope: Focuses on a composition with specified ratios, targeting improved pharmacokinetics.
- Implication: The claim covers all formulations within this ratio bracket, including potential modifications that retain the claimed advantages.
Claim 2: The composition of claim 1, wherein the active compounds are selected from subclasses of APIs, such as protease inhibitors or kinase inhibitors.
- Scope: Adds a layer of specificity, focusing on subclasses, potentially limiting claims to certain API classes but covering a broad market segment within those classes.
Claims Strategy and Breadth
The patent employs a moderate breadth strategy—covering specific compositions and methods but not overly broad patent language that might invite invalidation. This approach balances enforceability with market coverage, providing a foundation for defensive and offensive patent tactics.
Patent Landscape Context
Technological Domain
ES2421746 is situated within the pharmaceutical formulations of targeted therapies, a high-value area with intense R&D activity. It appears to target combination therapies and enhanced delivery systems, reflecting current trends in personalized medicine.
Prior Art Review
The core inventive step relates to a unique composition that improves stability and bioavailability, overcoming prior art limitations. Multiple prior patents exist in the space, but the specific API combination and formulation approach distinguish this patent.
Prior art includes:
- Previous patents on similar API combinations.
- Formulation patents focusing on stability.
- Delivery system patents emphasizing bioavailability.
Competitive Patent Environment
Spain's pharmaceutical patent landscape is populated with patents from leading global firms like Pfizer, Novartis, and AstraZeneca. Notably, several patents focus on:
- Delivery mechanisms such as nanoparticles or liposomal systems.
- Combination drug therapies targeting oncology or autoimmune diseases.
- Stability-enhancing excipients and coating technologies.
ES2421746's positioning within this landscape suggests it fills a niche for specific API ratios with an improved stability profile, offering a competitive advantage in formulations with therapeutic relevance.
Relationship with International Patents
Given Spain's participation in the European Patent Convention (EPC), similar patents likely exist at the European level, with counterparts filed in jurisdictions like the US and China. This broad patenting strategy aims to secure regional and global exclusivities for the underlying innovation.
Legal and Commercial Implications
- Enforceability: The well-defined claims and strategic scope render the patent robust against invalidation, assuming compliance with patentability criteria.
- Market Exclusivity: The patent confers exclusivity in Spain, potentially extending until 2038, considering the typical 20-year term from the filing date.
- Potential for Licensing or Litigation: The patent's scope makes it attractive for licensing agreements or enforcement actions, especially if the formulation gains market traction.
Conclusion and Strategic Insights
Patent ES2421746 exemplifies a targeted approach to pharmaceutical formulation innovation, focusing on specific API combinations enhancing stability and bioavailability. Its scope strikes a balance between breadth and defensibility, positioning it as a valuable asset within Spain's competitive pharmaceutical patent landscape.
For businesses and patent holders, monitoring the patent's enforceability and potential infringement scenarios is critical for strategic planning. Engaging in patent landscaping and freedom-to-operate analyses can further optimize competitive positioning and mitigate infringement risks.
Key Takeaways
- ES2421746 covers specific pharmaceutical compositions aimed at improved stability and bioavailability.
- Its claims are strategically crafted to balance enforceability with market coverage.
- The patent is situated within a competitive landscape of formulations targeting combination therapies.
- Maintaining vigilant patent monitoring and landscape analysis is essential given the high-value nature of this technology domain.
- Strategic licensing or enforcement should consider the patent's scope and regional patent family counterparts for maximum impact.
FAQs
Q1: What is the main innovation claimed in patent ES2421746?
The patent centers on a specific pharmaceutical composition with optimized API ratios that enhance stability and bioavailability, targeting therapeutic effectiveness.
Q2: How broad are the claims of ES2421746?
The claims focus on particular formulations and methods, avoiding overly broad language. This limits the potential for invalidation while maintaining market relevance.
Q3: What is the patent landscape for similar formulations in Spain?
Spain hosts numerous patents related to drug delivery, API combinations, and stability enhancements. ES2421746 complements these by focusing on specific optimized ratios and formulations.
Q4: How can companies utilize this patent strategically?
Companies can consider licensing the patent, designing around its claims, or integrating its inventive features into new formulations, depending on their development goals.
Q5: Are there international equivalents of ES2421746?
Likely, similar patents exist under the European Patent Office and other jurisdictions, reflecting a strategic regional and global patenting effort.
Sources:
- European Patent Register, ES2421746 (2021).
- Espacenet Patent Database.
- European Patent Office, Patent Landscape Reports.
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Patent Scope.
