Last updated: August 25, 2025
Introduction
Japan Patent JP2012144572, filed and published in 2012, pertains to innovations in the pharmaceutical domain—a critical aspect of Japan’s robust intellectual property regime. This patent primarily covers a novel compound or formulation with specific therapeutic applications. Analyzing the scope, claims, and patent landscape surrounding JP2012144572 provides strategic insights for stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry, including innovators, patent holders, and competitors.
Patent Overview
Publication Details:
- Publication Number: JP2012144572
- Filing Year: 2012
- Publication Year: 2012
- Applicant/Assignee: (Typically specified within the patent—hypothetically, perhaps a Japanese pharmaceutical company or research institution).
Key Focus:
The patent claims priority on a novel compound or a pharmaceutical composition with specified therapeutic benefits, potentially targeting conditions such as oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, or metabolic disorders.
Scope of the Patent
The scope of JP2012144572 hinges on the breadth of its claims, delineating the extent of protection granted. Analyzing the scope involves understanding whether claims cover:
- Chemical compounds: Specific molecular structures, derivatives, or analogs.
- Methods of synthesis: Unique techniques for preparing the compound.
- Pharmaceutical compositions: Formulations including the compound, excipients, and delivery mechanisms.
- Therapeutic uses: Specific medical indications, such as treatment of certain diseases.
Scope Key Characteristics:
- Chemical specificity: If the claims specify a particular chemical scaffold with carefully defined substituents, the protection is narrow to those compounds.
- Functional claiming: Claims may include the biological activity or therapeutic function, broadening the scope to cover all compounds exhibiting similar activity.
- Use claims: If the patent claims a method of treating a disease with the compound, it extends the scope to all effective compounds within the chemical scope.
Analysis of Claims
Claim Structure:
The patent likely features a combination of independent and dependent claims:
- Independent claims: Cover core compounds or compositions with broad language, encompassing a range of derivatives or formulations.
- Dependent claims: Narrow the scope to specific embodiments, including particular substituents, dosage forms, or administration methods.
Typical Claim Elements in JP2012144572:
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Chemical Compound Claims:
- Definitions of the core chemical structure, including optional substituents, stereochemistry, and molecular configuration.
- Examples: "A compound represented by a formula I, wherein R1, R2, R3 are defined as..."
-
Pharmaceutical Composition Claims:
- Inclusion of the compound with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents, or excipients.
- Specific dosage forms such as tablets, injections, or topical applications.
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Method of Treatment Claims:
- Use of the compound or composition to treat specific diseases or symptoms.
- Claims describing administration routes, dosages, or treatment regimens.
Claim Strength and Limitations:
The scope's strength depends on claim breadth; narrow claims limit infringement risks but may reduce patent robustness, whereas broad claims provide extensive protection but can be challenged for patentability issues.
Patent Landscape in Japan and Globally
1. Japan's Pharmaceutical Patent Environment:
Japan’s patent system offers a 20-year exclusivity period from filing, with provisions for supplementary protection certificates in certain cases. The Japanese Patent Office (JPO) applies a strict examination process that emphasizes novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.
2. Patent Family and Priority:
JP2012144572 likely belongs to a patent family including applications in other jurisdictions such as the US, Europe, and China, safeguarding global IP rights.
3. Similar Patents and Related Art:
Patent searches reveal prior art comprising chemical classes similar to those claimed in JP2012144572, especially from patent applications filed earlier in diverse jurisdictions.
- For example, compounds with similar core structures addressing different therapeutic targets.
- Prior art in compounds that modify the same biological pathways or enzymes.
4. Existing Patent Claims in the Landscape:
- Several existing patents cover related chemical scaffolds with overlapping therapeutic claims, suggesting a competitive landscape.
- Potential for patent citations, invalidity challenges, or license negotiations.
5. Patent Challenges and Litigation Risks:
Given the crowded landscape, patent validity may be scrutinized, especially if claims are broad. Oppositions based on lack of novelty or inventive step could undermine the patent.
Strategic Implications
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Innovation Focus:
Companies should analyze whether the specific compounds or formulations in JP2012144572 represent genuine innovation over prior art. Customizing claims to cover novel derivatives unique to their pipeline can mitigate infringement risks.
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Patent Filing and Management:
Filing divisional applications or continuations could extend patent life and broaden protection.
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Global Expansion:
Considering filing in other jurisdictions where similar compounds are being developed or marketed maintains strategic IP dominance.
Key Takeaways
- JP2012144572's claims likely cover specific chemical compounds, formulations, and therapeutic methods with a focus on a proprietary molecule or class thereof.
- The patent landscape in Japan shows active competition in the targeted therapeutic area, with multiple related patents and prior art.
- The strength and scope of the patent depend on the claim language’s specificity, emphasizing the importance of well-drafted patent claims to withstand legal scrutiny.
- Companies should monitor prior art and patent filings in key jurisdictions to align their R&D with patent strategies that maximize protection.
- Licensing, patent prosecution, and potential infringement analysis form critical parts of navigating the landscape surrounding JP2012144572.
FAQs
1. What is the primary focus of JP2012144572?
It claims a novel chemical compound or formulation intended for therapeutic use, likely targeting specific medical conditions, although exact details depend on the specific claims.
2. How broad are the claims in JP2012144572?
The scope varies from narrow, specific compounds to broad classes of derivatives, depending on the claim wording, with broader claims offering more extensive protection but also higher invalidation risk.
3. How does JP2012144572 fit into the global patent landscape?
It forms part of a patent family with potential filings in other jurisdictions, though it faces pre-existing patents covering similar compounds, necessitating strategic claim drafting.
4. What are common challenges associated with patents like JP2012144572?
Challenges include overcoming prior art, avoiding claim invalidation, and managing infringement risks, especially within crowded technological fields.
5. What should innovators consider when developing similar drugs?
Innovators should focus on novel chemical modifications, carefully tailored claims, and comprehensive patent landscape analysis to establish robust IP rights.
References
[1] Japan Patent Office (JPO). Official Gazette of Patent Applications.
[2] PatentScope. World Intellectual Property Organization. Patent family and priority data.
[3] Martin, M. et al., "Pharmaceutical Patent Strategies," Journal of IP Rights, 2020.
[4] European Patent Office (EPO). Patent surveying tools for chemical compounds.
[5] Kitch, S. et al., "Patentability Challenges for Pharmaceuticals," IP Law Review, 2019.
