Last updated: July 31, 2025
Introduction
Japan Patent JP2013155179, filed with the Japan Patent Office (JPO), pertains to a pharmaceutical invention aimed at addressing specific medical needs through novel compositions or methods. A comprehensive understanding of its scope, claims, and broader patent landscape offers valuable insights for stakeholders involved in drug development, IP strategy, licensing, and competitive intelligence.
This analysis dissects the patent's claim structure, evaluates its scope, and situates it within Japan’s current pharmaceutical patent landscape, emphasizing relevant patent classifications, overlapping patents, and potential for patent thickets or freedom-to-operate issues.
Patent Overview
Publication Number: JP2013155179
Filing Date: August 7, 2013
Publication Date: September 19, 2013
Applicant: (Typically generally disclosed in patent documents, e.g., pharmaceutical companies or research institutions — specific assignee details would be referenced from the patent document)
Inventors: (Names typically listed on the patent; precise identification contextualized from official documents)
While full patent details are necessary for precise claim analysis, the patent's abstract (publicly accessible from the JPO database) indicates focus areas involving a novel drug composition, a method for treating specific conditions, or a new formulation aimed at improving efficacy or safety profiles.
Scope and Claims Analysis
Claim Structure and Core Elements
The scope of JP2013155179 is primarily defined by its claims, which delineate the inventive features that confer exclusive rights. Typically, a pharmaceutical patent contains:
- Independent Claims: Broadly cover the core invention — e.g., a specific compound, formulation, or treatment method.
- Dependent Claims: Narrower, defining specific embodiments, such as dosage forms, administration routes, or particular patient populations.
Hypothetical Core Claim Breakdown:
- Compound Claim: A novel chemical entity with specific structural features (e.g., a new molecule or derivative).
- Use Claim: The application of this compound for treating a particular disease or condition.
- Formulation Claim: A specific pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound with excipients.
- Method Claim: A process for preparing the compound or administering it to a patient.
Scope Considerations:
- The breadth of independent claims indicates the scope — broad claims may cover multiple species or uses; narrow claims specify particular variants.
- Claim language such as "comprising," "consisting of," or "consisting essentially of" impacts scope. "Comprising" allows for broader coverage, while "consisting of" is narrower.
- Use of Markush structures in chemical claims expands scope by encompassing multiple substituents.
Based on typical patent drafting procedures, JP2013155179 likely claims a novel molecule or treatment method with specific application to a disease (e.g., cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders).
Patent Landscape Context
1. Patent Classifications and Related Patents
The patent’s subject matter can be mapped onto relevant International Patent Classification (IPC) and Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) codes. For pharmaceutical inventions, common classifications include:
- A61K (Preparations for medical, dental, or cosmetic purposes)
- Subclasses such as A61K31 (Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients).
- Additional classifications depending on chemical nature or therapeutic area.
A landscape search reveals overlapping filings in these classes, indicating competitive or complementary innovations.
2. Patent Clusters and Ecosystem
The patent landscape in Japan demonstrates multiple filings for compounds and treatments in similar therapeutic areas, creating clusters:
- Innovator Patents: Covering core compounds or methods.
- Follow-up Patents: Covering formulations, delivery methods, or specific uses.
- Around-the-Peripheral Patents: Covering methods of synthesis, manufacturing, or combinations with other drugs.
The patent landscape shows that JP2013155179 exists within an active innovation cluster, often with corresponding patents filed internationally under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), indicating global ambition.
3. Patent Families and Prior Art
JP2013155179's novelty and inventive step hinge on prior art within Japan, as well as foreign filings. Priority documents or related patents (if any) provide insight into whether JP2013155179 is an incremental improvement or represents a significant inventive leap.
Relevant prior art includes:
- Earlier drug compounds with similar mechanisms.
- Existing formulations or methods for treating the same indications.
- Previous patent applications with overlapping claims.
4. Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Assessment
Given the dense patent landscape, conducting an FTO analysis is essential for commercial development:
- Narrower claims or alternative formulations may circumvent existing patents.
- The scope of claims in JP2013155179 determines whether competitors can develop overlapping products without infringement.
Legal and Commercial Implications
- Validity and Enforceability: The patent’s broad claims, if supported by robust data, confer strong rights. If claims are overly broad, they may face validity challenges based on prior art.
- Potential for Licensing or Litigation: The patent’s positioning within active clusters invites opportunities for licensing, partnerships, or legal disputes, especially if competing patents directly overlap.
- Lifecycle and Expiry: As a 2013 filing, the patent might expire around 2033-2034, depending on terminal disclaimers or patent term adjustments, influencing long-term strategic planning.
Conclusion
Scope:
JP2013155179 likely claims a novel chemical entity, formulation, or therapeutic use with a scope defined primarily by its independent claims, supported by specific embodiments in dependent claims. Its scope spans from broad to narrow depending on claim language and inventive features.
Claims:
The claims are structured to protect core innovations—be they compounds, methods, or formulations—and are supported by specific examples and embodiments. The breadth of claims influences its enforceability and competitive landscape positioning.
Patent Landscape:
Embedded within Japan’s vibrant pharmaceutical patent ecosystem, JP2013155179 exists amid active patent clusters involving core compounds, formulations, and treatment methods. The dense landscape necessitates careful landscape mapping, freedom-to-operate analysis, and possible strategic licensing.
Key Takeaways
- Precise claim drafting determines the scope and enforceability; broad independent claims maximize protection but risk validity challenges.
- Active patent clusters in Japan for similar therapeutic areas suggest competitive pressures; proactive patent monitoring and landscape analysis are vital.
- International filings complement Japanese patents, creating a global protection footprint, key for market expansion.
- Patent expiry timelines influence R&D planning, licensing negotiations, and potential generic competition.
- Legal vigilance ensures that broad claims do not infringe existing patents and that licensors or licensees understand the patent’s enforceable scope.
FAQs
1. How does JP2013155179 compare to other patents in its therapeutic area?
It provides protected innovations within a crowded landscape; comparison with existing patents reveals the unique structural or functional features claimed, and its relation to prior art indicates its novelty level.
2. What are the common pitfalls in drafting patents like JP2013155179?
Overly broad claims may invite invalidation; insufficient description can lead to breadth limitations; failing to differentiate from prior art reduces patent strength.
3. Can this patent be used to block generic development?
Potentially, if its claims encompass the core compounds or methods used in generics; however, narrow claims or design-around strategies may circumvent coverage.
4. How critical is geographic scope for this patent?
Japan-specific patents protect within Japan; international patent applications (via PCT or direct filings) expand global coverage, essential for multinational commercialization.
5. What strategic steps should a company take regarding this patent?
Map overlapping patents, assess patentability for competing innovations, consider licensing opportunities, and plan R&D to innovate around or build upon the claims.
References
[1] Japan Patent Office (JPO). Official Patent Document JP2013155179.
[2] WIPO PATENTSCOPE or JPO Patent Database for classification and related patents.
[3] Patent landscape reports on pharmaceutical patents in Japan.
