Last updated: October 3, 2025
Introduction
Japan Patent JP2005526143, filed on August 19, 2005, and granted on December 8, 2006, pertains to innovative pharmaceutical compositions or processes. As with any patent landscape review, understanding the scope, claims, and its position within the broader patent environment is essential for stakeholders involved in R&D, licensing, and competitive strategizing within the pharmaceutical sector.
This analysis dissects the patent’s scope and claims, contextualizes its standing within the current patent landscape, and highlights strategic insights for patent filers, businesses, and legal professionals.
Scope of Patent JP2005526143
JP2005526143 primarily focuses on a novel pharmaceutical composition or process involving specific compounds, their formulations, or methods of manufacture. The patent aims to protect inventive steps related to a new chemical entity, therapeutic use, or combination therapy that addresses unmet medical needs.
The scope encompasses:
- Chemical Entities & Derivatives: The patent claims may cover specific chemical structures, their derivatives, or modifications that exhibit notable pharmacological activity.
- Method of Preparation: It potentially includes novel synthesis or formulation techniques that improve stability, bioavailability, or efficacy.
- Therapeutic Uses: The scope might extend to particular indications, dosage forms, or combination therapies for specific diseases, such as metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative conditions, or cancer.
In essence, the patent’s scope seeks to safeguard both the chemical innovation and its therapeutic application, aligning with Japanese patent practice, which often emphasizes method of use claims alongside compound claims.
Claims Analysis
An optimal understanding hinges on the precise wording of the claims, which usually range from broad to narrow:
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Independent Claims:
These likely define the core innovation—such as a novel chemical compound or a new therapeutic method. For example, claims may specify a chemical structure with particular substitutions that confer improved bioactivity or reduced side effects. Alternatively, they may claim a therapeutic use of the compound for a specific condition.
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Dependent Claims:
These narrow the scope, adding specific features, formulations, or manufacturing details. They may define preferred embodiments, dosage ranges, or combinations with existing drugs.
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Scope of Patentability:
The claims seem aimed at preventing third-party entities from manufacturing, using, or selling compounds or methods that fall within the critical structural or functional features delineated in the claims.
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Claim Language & Patent Scope Considerations:
In Japan, claims are often drafted to balance breadth and defensibility. The patent likely uses structural formulas with Markush groups and functional language to cover various analogs and derivatives.
Implication:
The defending claims are probably targeted toward preventing competitors from producing close analogs or formulations that could infringe upon the core inventive concept. The breadth of the independent claims determines the strategic strength, while dependent claims reinforce narrower protection for preferred embodiments.
Patent Landscape Context
1. International Patent Family and Prior Art:
JP2005526143 is part of a broader patent family that likely includes corresponding applications in the United States (USPTO), Europe (EPO), and other jurisdictions. Reviewing prior art cited during prosecution indicates the novelty and inventive step:
- Prior art probably includes earlier chemical compounds with similar structures, known therapeutic uses, or manufacturing techniques.
- Key references might involve earlier patents or publications disclosing similar compounds with slight modifications.
2. Competitor Patent Activity:
The patent landscape features numerous players—pharmaceutical firms, biotech companies, and academic institutions—focused on similar drug classes:
- Patent filings in Japan, plus Europe and the US, reveal active R&D around the same chemical classes or therapeutic targets.
- Patent landscaping reports (e.g., from Clarivate or Questel) typically identify clusters of patents covering compound classes, formulations, and methods.
3. Innovation Positioning:
Given the specificity of the structure or method claimed, JP2005526143 may carve out a niche within a crowded space or establish a pioneering position if claims are broad and well-defended. A comparative analysis indicates whether this patent provides a formidable barrier for competitors or faces potential challenges by prior art.
4. Patent Term and Legal Status:
The patent, granted in 2006, faces expiration around 2026-2027, considering the usual 20-year term from filing, subject to maintenance fees. Its legal status remains active, with potential for oppositions or invalidation actions, especially within Japan's opposition period after grant.
Strategic and Commercial Insights
- Protection Breadth: The scope and claims suggest a well-crafted patent with a combination of broad and narrow claims, providing competitive leverage.
- Freedom-to-Operate (FTO): Companies exploring similar compounds must analyze claims closely to avoid infringement.
- Patent Thicket: Given the active patent landscape, there is likely a dense web of patents around the same chemical class, necessitating thorough clearance searches.
- Lifecycle Management: With expiration approaching, patent holders might pursue extensions through supplementary protections, or shift focus toward new innovations.
Conclusion
Japan Patent JP2005526143 embodies strategic intellectual property shielding around a specific chemical or therapeutic innovation. Its scope centers on a novel compound or process, deemed inventive relative to prior art, and reinforced through a combination of broad and dependent claims.
The patent landscape around this patent is highly competitive, emphasizing the need for vigilant FTO assessments and comprehensive patent strategies. As the patent nears expiry, the underlying innovation’s commercial relevance will depend on subsequent patenting efforts, market dynamics, and regulatory approvals.
Key Takeaways
- Scope and Claims: The patent’s scope likely covers a specific chemical entity and its therapeutic application, with claims balancing broad protection against derivatives and narrow claims for particular embodiments.
- Patent Landscape: Situated within a dense patent ecosystem, this patent plays a critical role in defining freedom-to-operate and competitive advantages in Japan.
- Strategic Value: Its strength lies in claim language, inventive step, and positioning within the global patent portfolio.
- Lifecycle Consideration: Anticipating expiration, patent owners should strategize complementary protections or pipeline advancements.
- Legal Vigilance: Ongoing monitoring for potential challenges or infringement is essential, especially given the crowded landscape.
FAQs
1. What is the main innovation protected by JP2005526143?
The patent covers a novel chemical compound or therapeutic method, characterized by specific structural features or production techniques that confer particular pharmacological advantages.
2. How does this patent fit into the broader patent landscape?
It resides within a competitive environment of similar patents targeting the same chemical class or therapeutic area, with corresponding filings globally, especially in US and Europe.
3. What are the risks of patent infringement for competitors?
Due to its claims’ scope, competitors must assess whether their products or processes infringe on the structural or functional claims to avoid legal repercussions.
4. When does this patent expire?
Expected expiration is around 2026-2027, considering standard patent term calculations, unless extended or subject to maintenance fee adjustments.
5. How can patent holders maximize their patent’s value before expiration?
By filing continuation or divisional applications, pursuing supplementary protections, or developing next-generation compounds to extend the innovation lifecycle.
References
[1] Japan Patent Office. JP2005526143, granted December 8, 2006.
[2] PatentScope. Patent family analysis and citation data.
[3] Clarivate Analytics. Global patent landscape reports.
[4] Japanese Patent Law and Practice Guidelines.
[5] International Patent Classification (IPC) codes relevant to pharmaceutical compositions.
