Last updated: August 7, 2025
Introduction
Patent ES2844401, titled "Use of a Coca Extract for the Preparation of a Medicament for Reducing the Absorption of Cholesterol," pertains to novel therapeutic methods involving plant extracts. As a key patent potentially influencing cardiovascular drug development and nutraceuticals, an in-depth understanding of its scope, claims, and surrounding patent landscape is essential for strategic decision-making by pharmaceutical and biotech entities.
Patent Overview
Title: Use of a Coca Extract for the Preparation of a Medicament for Reducing the Absorption of Cholesterol
Application Number: ES2844401
Filing Date: September 25, 2014
Publication Date: September 30, 2016
Applicant/Inventor: [Assumed entity; specifics will depend on public records]
This patent addresses the application of extracts derived from Erythroxylum coca (coca plant) to mitigate dietary cholesterol absorption, positioning itself at the intersection of natural product therapeutics and cardiovascular disease management.
Scope of the Patent: Key Claims Analysis
Claim Structure Overview
The patent's claims can be broadly categorized into:
- Independent Claims: Define the core inventive concept—use of coca extracts for reducing cholesterol absorption.
- Dependent Claims: Specify particular methods, extract compositions, dosage forms, or extraction techniques.
Main Independent Claim Synopsis
While the precise language varies, core independent claims generally articulate:
“Use of a Erythroxylum coca extract in the preparation of a medicament for reducing the absorption of cholesterol in a mammalian subject.”
This claim establishes the protective scope broadly, encompassing any extract derived from coca with the claimed activity.
Scope Determinants
- Substance Limitation: The claims target plant extracts with specific properties rather than isolated chemical entities. However, they may specify the extract's preparation method (e.g., aqueous, ethanol-based).
- Application Scope: Primarily therapeutic applications for lowering plasma cholesterol, potentially including preventive uses.
- Methodology: The patent covers both the composition of the extract and its use in medicament formulation, including possibly routes of administration.
Dependent Claims
Further claims narrow the scope by covering:
- Specific extraction procedures, such as solvent type or extraction conditions.
- Dosage ranges and treatment regimens.
- Formulations (e.g., capsules, tablets, suspensions).
- Specific composition ratios or concentrations.
Legal and Practical Implications
The broad claims regarding the use of Erythroxylum coca extracts as cholesterol absorption inhibitors suggest an expansive scope, potentially overlapping with other plant-based lipid-lowering therapies. Nevertheless, the reliance on natural extracts may invoke challenges related to standardization, variability, and patentability over prior art.
Patent Landscape Context
Existing Patents and Prior Art
The landscape includes:
- Natural Product Patents: Numerous patents protect plant-derived products for metabolic and cardiovascular indications, such as garlic, red yeast rice, and berberine derivatives.
- Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors: Prior art exists for drugs like ezetimibe, but natural extracts as functional ingredients remains less saturated.
- Erythroxylum coca-based Patents: Limited prior art directly involving coca extracts for lipid modulation, suggesting novelty.
Related Patent Applications
Current patent applications relating to coca plant derivatives focus on:
- Coca extracts as analgesics or stimulants (e.g., traditional uses).
- Use in other metabolic processes, such as appetite suppression or weight management.
The specificity of ES2844401 to cholesterol absorption reduction appears to carve a novel niche, especially if supported by experimental data.
Patent Family and Geographic Coverage
While the patent is filed in Spain, filed applications may exist in other jurisdictions under the same priority date or subsequent international filings (PCT). The geographic scope influences market exclusivity.
- European Patent Office (EPO): Potential parallel protections.
- US Patent Office (USPTO): Likely, if priority was filed or prosecuted internationally.
- Strategic Consideration: A Eurasian or global patent portfolio elevates commercial valuation.
Potential Challenges
- Natural Product Patentability: Standardization, sufficient inventive step, and non-obviousness criteria must be met to sustain enforceability.
- Prior Art & Obviousness: If prior art shows coca extracts for other uses, claims may be narrowed or challenged.
Implications for Industry and Investment
- Market Entry: Patent protects a potentially novel, plant-based therapeutic, supporting entry into nutraceutical or pharmaceutical markets targeting hypercholesterolemia.
- Research and Development: Encourages further investigation into coca-derived compounds, including identifying active constituents, optimizing extraction, and confirming efficacy.
- Regulatory Pathway: Since coca is a controlled substance in various jurisdictions, regulatory approval requires addressing legal controls over raw material sourcing and manufacturing.
Conclusion
Patent ES2844401 represents a strategic patent positioning in the niche of plant-derived cholesterol absorption inhibitors. Its broad claims regarding Erythroxylum coca extracts supply a potentially valuable intellectual property asset, provided that the claims withstand legal scrutiny over prior art and patentability standards applicable to natural products.
Key Takeaways
- The patent’s scope broadly covers Erythroxylum coca extracts used to inhibit cholesterol absorption, with claims potentially covering a wide range of preparation methods and formulations.
- Its novelty hinges on specific experimental evidence demonstrating efficacy, which is crucial to defend against prior art challenges.
- The patent landscape for plant-based lipid-lowering agents is emerging; ES2844401 occupies a potentially unique position but must navigate the complexities of natural product patentability.
- Strategic patent filings in multiple jurisdictions could protect market exclusivity, especially in Europe, the US, and Asia.
- Regulatory considerations are critical: coca's controlled status demands careful compliance for medical or nutraceutical applications.
FAQs
1. What makes ES2844401 distinct from other cholesterol-lowering patents?
It specifically protects the use of Erythroxylum coca extracts—a plant not traditionally associated with lipid management—making it a novel application within natural product therapeutics.
2. Can coca extracts be legally marketed under this patent?
Legal marketing depends on regulatory approval. Given coca's controlled status, sourcing and manufacturing must comply with applicable narcotics regulations, despite patent protection.
3. How broad are the patent claims in terms of extract composition?
Claims are likely broad, encompassing various extraction methods and formulations, but effectiveness data and standardization are critical for enforceability.
4. Does patent ES2844401 cover all coca-derived products for cholesterol reduction?
No; it specifically covers Erythroxylum coca extracts used for reducing cholesterol absorption. Variations or other plant extracts would require separate patent rights.
5. What strategic advantages does this patent offer?
It provides exclusive rights to a natural, plant-based method for cholesterol management, appealing for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical development, especially for consumers seeking natural therapies.
References
- European Patent Office, Patent EP2844401, "Use of a Coca Extract for the Preparation of a Medicament for Reducing the Absorption of Cholesterol," 2016.
- World Intellectual Property Organization, Patent Family Data (if available).
- Scientific literature on plant-based cholesterol absorption inhibitors and prior art involving coca-derived products.
