Last updated: September 26, 2025
Introduction
Patent IL241102, filed in Israel, constitutes a vital element within the landscape of pharmaceutical intellectual property. Understanding its scope and claims provides critical insights for stakeholders—including competitors, licensors, investors, and legal professionals—aiming to navigate the complex terrain of drug patenting and commercialization. This analysis offers a detailed examination of its claimed subject matter, the scope of exclusivity, and the broader patent landscape in the context of Israeli and international drug patents.
Background and Context
Patent IL241102 pertains to a pharmaceutical invention, likely relating to a novel compound, formulation, or method of treatment. Given the strategic importance of patent exclusivity in the pharmaceutical industry, such patents serve as pivotal assets that protect innovative therapies and enable market control.
Israel’s patent system aligns with international standards, providing strong protections for pharmaceutical inventions, particularly given its membership in international treaties like the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). However, Israeli patents are also influenced by regional practices and national legislation, including provisions on patent term extensions, inventive step, and disclosure requirements.
Scope of Patent IL241102
The scope of IL241102 hinges on its claims—specifically, the breadth, validity, and enforceability of its exclusivity rights. Patent scope generally divides into:
- Independent Claims: Form the broadest protection, defining the fundamental invention with minimal reference to other claims.
- Dependent Claims: Narrower, elaborating specific embodiments, formulations, or methods, offering fallback positions during patent enforcement.
Claim Construction
A typical pharmaceutical patent like IL241102 might include claims directed to:
- Chemical composition: Specifies a novel compound or a class of compounds, possibly with unique substituents or stereochemistry.
- Method of use: Details a therapeutic application, e.g., a method of treating a symptom or disease.
- Pharmaceutical formulations: Describes a specific preparation, delivery mechanism, or combination with other agents.
- Manufacturing process: Defines a novel synthesis route or process parameters.
Scope Determinants
- Chemical specificity: If claim language describes a specific compound or a small genus, legal protection remains narrow but precise.
- Functional language: Use of functionally defined claims (e.g., "a compound capable of inhibiting enzyme X") broadens scope but risks invalidation under obviousness or lack of enablement.
- Method vs. composition: Method claims tend to be narrower; composition claims offer more comprehensive protection.
- Markush groups: Use of multiple alternatives within claims increases scope but may be limited by prior art.
Limitations and Challenges
- Prior art challenges: Broad claims risk revocation if found obvious or lacking novelty during examination or litigation.
- Disclosure requirements: The patent must enable the claimed invention sufficiently, or it risks invalidation.
- Regulatory considerations: Certain claims, especially method-of-use patents, face scrutiny under patent laws aimed at balancing innovation incentives with public access.
Claims Analysis: Specifics of IL241102
A typical analysis of IL241102 would involve dissecting each claim:
- Independent claim(s): Usually claim(s) to a novel molecule—probably a compound with unique structural features or stereochemistry—along with their pharmaceutical use.
- Dependent claims: Likely specify dosage forms, combinations with other therapeutics, or particular methods of synthesis.
For example, if IL241102 claims a "compound of formula I," the structure (often depicted in chemical formulas) defines the scope. Any other molecule substantially similar—e.g., with minor modifications—could potentially infringe unless explicitly excluded.
Therapeutic claims often specify the method of treatment, which may include specific indications, patient populations, or administration routes. These claims extend protection to a therapeutic application, as well as the compound itself.
Patent Landscape for Israeli Drugs and IL241102
1. Patent Family and Priority Data
IL241102's family likely has counterparts in other jurisdictions—such as the US, EU, and PCT applications—expanding its global enforceability. The priority date influences the patent’s strength in prior art context, with earlier filing dates offering superior protection.
2. Competitor Patents and Related Technologies
The Israeli patent landscape is competitive, especially with local companies and international pharma seeking to secure exclusivity. Competing patents might target:
- Similar chemical scaffolds.
- Alternative therapeutic methods.
- Adjunct formulations or delivery technologies.
3. Patentability and Patent Strategy
Israeli patent authorities and courts rigorously examine novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability. For drugs, modifications that confer significant therapeutic advantages or circumvent prior art are more likely to be patentable.
Pharmaceutical companies often file:
- Follow-on patents: To extend patent life through formulations or specific uses.
- Patent thickets: Multiple overlapping patents for a single drug, creating a barrier to entry.
4. Patent Duration and Extensions
Standard patent protection lasts 20 years from the filing date. Israeli regulations permit patent term extensions for pharmaceuticals to compensate for regulatory delays, further bolstering exclusive market rights.
5. International Considerations
Given Israel's participation in the PCT, patent applicants often pursue international filings for crucial jurisdictions. IL241102, if part of such a portfolio, benefits from cross-jurisdictional patent strategies, influencing global market access and licensing.
Legal and Commercial Implications
The scope of IL241102 directly influences its enforceability and commercial potential:
- Infringement risks: Broad claims can cover multiple drug candidates, but also narrow if claims are overly specific.
- Patent life cycle management: Continual filing of divisional or continuation applications can maintain patent Life cycle.
- Licensing and partnerships: Strong patent claims facilitate licensing negotiations, especially if covering key therapeutic compounds.
Conclusion
Patent IL241102 embodies a strategic intellectual property asset within Israel's pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem. Its scope, primarily driven by the wording of its claims, balances broad protection with the legal scrutiny inherent in patent examination. Understanding its particular claims and how they fit within the broader patent landscape enables stakeholders to optimize patent management, strategic licensing, and research investments.
Key Takeaways
- The scope of IL241102 hinges on carefully crafted claims, balancing broad coverage and patent validity.
- Composition and method claims are typical for drug patents and influence enforceability.
- Israeli patent law aligns with international standards, but claims must withstand scrutiny on novelty and inventive step.
- The patent landscape includes overlapping patents, follow-on applications, and regional extensions to maximize protection.
- Strategic patent filing—such as filing PCT applications—enhances global protection and market exclusivity.
FAQs
1. What is the typical structure of claims in a pharmaceutical patent like IL241102?
Pharmaceutical patents commonly feature independent claims directed to a novel compound or therapeutic method, supplemented by dependent claims narrowing scope via specific embodiments, formulations, or methods.
2. How does Israeli patent law influence the scope of drug patents?
Israeli law requires patents to meet criteria of novelty and inventive step. Claim wording and disclosure must precisely define the invention to withstand legal challenges, ensuring meaningful scope and enforceability.
3. Can a patent like IL241102 be enforced globally?
While enforceable within Israel, similar protection abroad requires filing corresponding patents in other jurisdictions—via national filings or the PCT—to secure global rights.
4. How do patent landscapes impact pharmaceutical innovation in Israel?
A crowded landscape with overlapping patents can both incentivize innovation and pose litigation risks. Firms often employ strategic patenting to build robust portfolios and defend market positions.
5. What strategies can extend the protection conferred by IL241102?
Filing additional related patents (e.g., formulation, delivery, method-of-use), submitting divisional or continuation applications, and pursuing patent term extensions can prolong commercial exclusivity.
Sources:
[1] Israel Patent Office. Guidelines for Patent Examination, 2022.
[2] World Intellectual Property Organization. Patent Law Treaty and International Standards.
[3] European Patent Office. Guidelines for Examination of Patent Applications.
[4] Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). International Patent Procedures.
[5] International Data on Pharmaceutical Patents. PatentScope, WIPO Database.
