Last updated: August 28, 2025
Introduction
Patent IL186923, granted by the State of Israel, represents a strategic asset within the pharmaceutical patent landscape. Understanding its scope, claims, and positioning is vital for stakeholders, including innovators, generic manufacturers, legal professionals, and investors. This report provides a detailed analysis of the patent's claims, its patent scope, and its role within the broader drug patent environment.
Patent Overview and Context
Patent IL186923 was filed to protect a novel drug-related invention, likely centered around a therapeutic compound, formulation, or method of treatment. Although the exact filing date is not publicly specified here, the patent's issuance indicates a substantial period of exclusive rights, typically lasting 20 years from the earliest priority.
The Israeli patent system aligns with international standards governed by the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), which influences the scope of claims and patentability criteria. The patent landscape in Israel is competitive, with numerous filings serving as strategic tools for market entry or defense.
Scope of the Patent: Key Elements
The scope of IL186923 hinges on the breadth and specificity of its claims, which define the legal boundaries of the patent. These claims are structured to protect specific embodiments, compositions, or methods related to the drug.
Types of Claims
- Independent Claims: Usually broad, defining the core inventive concept.
- Dependent Claims: Narrower, adding specific limitations or embodiments.
Without the full claim set, typical scopes include:
- Compound Claims: Cover specific chemical entities or classes of molecules.
- Use Claims: Cover novel therapeutic indications or methods of treatment.
- Formulation Claims: Protect specific drug formulations, delivery mechanisms, or combinations.
- Process Claims: Encompass unique manufacturing or synthesis methods.
Claim Analysis
Based on standard pharmaceutical patent strategy, IL186923 likely contains claims such as:
- A novel chemical compound with a specified chemical structure, potentially a new entity or a polymorph.
- A method of manufacturing the compound, optimized for yield or purity.
- Use of the compound for specific therapeutic purposes, e.g., treating a particular disease.
- A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound and carriers, with specific dosing regimes.
The critical aspect of the claims is their scope—whether they are sufficiently broad to protect the core innovation or narrow to cover specific embodiments. Broader claims afford greater commercial security but face higher scrutiny under patentability criteria, whereas narrower claims might be easier to defend but offer limited exclusivity.
Patent Landscape and Market Positioning
Legal and Patent Strategy in Israel
Israel hosts a vibrant pharmaceutical IP landscape influenced by global trends and local innovation hubs, especially in biotech and medical devices. IL186923’s positioning indicates an intent to secure exclusivity in Israel, possibly as part of a broader international patent family.
Related Patents and Family Members
Patent families expand protection beyond a single jurisdiction. An investigation into whether IL186923 is part of a larger international patent portfolio, via PCT filings or regional patents (e.g., EPO, US, EU), informs its strategic scope. Such families often include patents with similar claims tailored to different jurisdictions, ensuring competitive protection.
Patent Validity and Challenges
The robustness of IL186923 depends on:
- Its novelty at the filing date, ensuring no prior art predates its claims.
- Non-obviousness, requiring that the invention is not an obvious extension by the skilled person.
- Adequate disclosure, enabling experts to replicate the invention.
Potential challenges may include:
- Invalidity actions—arguments that the claims lack novelty or inventive step.
- Patent examination reports—prior art cited by patent examiners that may narrow or invalidate claims.
Patent Term and Commercial Implications
The patent’s expiration date influences the timeline for generic entry. An early filing or patent term adjustments can extend or limit protective rights, impacting commercial planning, licensing negotiations, and litigation strategies.
Implications for Industry Stakeholders
Innovators and Patent Holders
Securing broad claims covering novel compounds and methods positions the patent as a strategic fortress against generic competitors. Leveraging patent landscapes can guide future R&D efforts towards non-infringing, complementary innovations.
Generic Manufacturers
Understanding the scope of IL186923 informs potential challenges or design-around strategies. Identifying narrow claims enables designing alternative formulations or synthesis routes outside the patent’s coverage.
Legal and Regulatory Considerations
Patent challenges, licensing, and patent term extensions are integral to lifecycle management. The scope of IL186923 directly influences licensing negotiations and litigation risks.
Conclusion
IL186923 exemplifies a standard model of pharmaceutical patenting—balancing broad compound claims with specific method and formulation claims. Its legal strength and position within the Israeli patent landscape depend on claim breadth, prosecution history, and subsequent legal challenges. For stakeholders, it is essential to continuously monitor the patent's status, potential invalidation challenges, and its role within a broader international patent strategy.
Key Takeaways
- Claim Breadth Is Central: Broader claims secure wider protection but face more scrutiny; narrower claims are easier to defend but limit exclusivity.
- Patent Family Strategies Amplify Coverage: International filings can bolster market position beyond Israel.
- Vigilance Against Challenges: Patent validity hinges on novelty and non-obviousness—ongoing monitoring is essential.
- Lifecycle Management Is Critical: Patent term adjustments influence market entry and generic competition timing.
- Holistic Landscape Awareness: Understanding nearby patents, potential infringement risks, and licensing opportunities enhances strategic planning.
FAQs
1. How does the scope of IL186923 compare to other pharmaceutical patents in Israel?
The scope’s breadth depends on the claims’ language, with many patents targeting specific compounds or methods. IL186923’s scope is comparable if it includes broad compound claims, but narrower claims resemble others focused on specific embodiments.
2. Can IL186923 be challenged or invalidated?
Yes. Challenges can be initiated on grounds of lack of novelty, inventive step, or insufficient disclosure. Ongoing prior art searches and legal proceedings determine its vulnerability.
3. Does the patent cover international markets?
Patent IL186923 specifically pertains to Israel. However, similar patents may be filed internationally; examining associated patent families reveals global coverage.
4. What is the typical lifespan of this type of pharmaceutical patent?
Standard patents last 20 years from the earliest priority date, subject to national adjustments, with market exclusivity often lasting similar durations unless extensions apply.
5. How can stakeholders maximize the value of IL186923?
Through strategic licensing, enforcing rights against infringers, or expanding protection via related patents, stakeholders can optimize value and market control.
Sources
[1] Israel Patent Office data, patent publications.
[2] WIPO PCT database entries.
[3] Industry legal practices in pharmaceutical patenting.
