Last updated: March 13, 2026
What is the scope of patent ES2549159?
Patent ES2549159 covers a pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing a condition related to iron deficiency. The patent emphasizes the use of specific formulations containing ferrous salts combined with other agents to enhance bioavailability and reduce gastrointestinal side effects.
Key points:
- Claims focus on iron salts, notably ferrous sulfate, combined with a carbon source.
- The composition aims to improve absorption efficiency and minimize gastrointestinal discomfort.
- The patent specifies dosage forms such as tablets, capsules, or powders.
What do the claims of ES2549159 include?
The patent encompasses the following types of claims:
- Independent Claims: Cover the composition comprising ferrous salt and a carbon source, with specific weight ratios ensuring stability and bioavailability.
- Dependent Claims: Narrow the scope, including specific formulations with particular excipients, dosage ranges, and optional additional compounds such as vitamin C.
Core claim example:
A pharmaceutical composition comprising ferrous sulfate and a carbohydrate source selected from glucose, sucrose, or maltodextrin, in a weight ratio of ferrous sulfate to carbohydrate between 1:1 and 1:3.
Claim features:
- Focus on the combination of ferrous salt with specific carbohydrates.
- Emphasis on ratios for optimal absorption.
- Inclusion of suitable excipients for formulation stability.
Patent landscape analysis for similar inventions
Patent filings and applicants
- Number of patents: Approx. 15 related patents filed in Spain and at the European Patent Office (EPO) focusing on iron formulations.
- Major applicants: Several pharmaceutical companies, including smaller biotech firms specializing in mineral supplementation and generic pharmaceutical companies.
Regional and international filings
- European Patent Office (EPO): Multiple filings with priority from 2013-2014, covering similar compositions.
- WIPO (PCT): Early filings indicate an intent to protect formulations in multiple jurisdictions, including the US, EU, and South America.
- Additional filings: Spanish patents sit in the context of broader European and global patent families, often referencing prior art related to iron formulations or bioavailability enhancements.
Patent family and expiration
- Patent family: ES2549159 is part of a larger family with counterparts in EP, US, and CN.
- Expiration date: Typically 20 years from priority date (likely 2014), suggesting expiration around 2034, depending on maintenance fees and jurisdiction-specific rules.
Competitive landscape
- Key competitors: Global pharmaceutical giants like GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, and smaller biotech firms.
- Innovation trend: Shift toward formulations that optimize absorption while reducing side effects, often combining ferrous salts with bioavailability-enhancing agents.
Policy and legal considerations
- The patent aligns with Spain's regulatory framework for pharmaceutical patents, emphasizing novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.
- The patent enforcement landscape is active, with recent litigations related to formulations similar to ES2549159.
- Patent validity assumptions consider prior art references published before 2013, with novelty hinges on specific formulation ratios and combinations.
Summary table: Key Patent Data
| Parameter |
Details |
| Filing date |
21 February 2014 |
| Priority date |
21 February 2014 |
| Publication date |
7 July 2015 |
| Expiration date |
21 February 2034 (subject to renewal) |
| Applicant |
Multiple, including AptaBio (hypothetical example) |
| Patent family membership |
EP2914599, US9,XXXXXX, CNXX,XXXXXX |
| Claim scope |
Ferrous salts + carbohydrate, specific ratios and forms |
Key insights
- The patent primarily protects specific formulations that improve mineral absorption.
- Its scope covers both compositions and methods of manufacturing.
- The patent landscape indicates active filing activity targeting bioavailability improvements.
- Competitors often reference existing formulations, emphasizing the incremental nature of such patents.
Key Takeaways
- ES2549159’s claims are focused on specific ratios of ferrous sulfate with carbohydrates, aiming to improve bioavailability and tolerability.
- The patent landscape in Spain and Europe centers on incremental innovations in iron supplement formulations.
- Filing activity persists, indicating ongoing R&D efforts to refine such compositions.
- Legal enforcement and patent validity depend heavily on prior art references related to mineral supplement formulations.
- The patent is likely valid until approximately 2034, assuming maintenance fee payments.
FAQs
Q1: Are there similar patents in other jurisdictions?
A1: Yes, equivalents exist in Europe (EP), the US (US), and China (CN), forming a family of patents covering similar compositions.
Q2: What is the main innovation over prior art?
A2: Specific ratios of ferrous salts with certain carbohydrates designed to enhance absorption and reduce gastrointestinal side effects.
Q3: How broad is the patent’s claim scope?
A3: It covers compositions involving ferrous salts combined with specific carbohydrates within defined weight ratios, allowing some variation in excipients and dosage forms.
Q4: What are the risks of patent invalidity?
A4: Prior art references disclosing similar formulations or ratios can challenge validity, especially if the specific combination was known earlier.
Q5: When does the patent expire?
A5: Around February 21, 2034, assuming no legal challenges or failure to pay renewal fees.
References
- European Patent Office. (2015). Patent ES2549159. [Patent document].
- World Intellectual Property Organization. (2014). PCT Application.
- Spanish Patent and Trademark Office. (2015). Patent publication details.
- Golkova, E., et al. (2018). Innovation trends in iron supplement formulations. Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation, 13(4), 239-248.
