Last updated: July 28, 2025
Introduction
Japan Patent JP2013513575 pertains to a pharmaceutical invention, with implications spanning drug efficacy, formulation, and method of use. This patent’s scope, claims, and surrounding patent landscape influence competitive positioning and R&D strategies within the Japanese pharmaceutical market. A comprehensive understanding of these elements is vital for stakeholders assessing patent strength, potential infringement risks, and avenues for innovation.
Patent Overview and Basic Details
- Patent Number: JP2013513575
- Application Filing Date: Likely around 2012 (based on publication number)
- Publication Date: Around 2013
- Applicant/Assignee: (Details vary, often a pharmaceutical company or research institution)
- Patent Type: Utility patent
The patent's abstract and initially published claims suggest a focus on a specific drug compound, formulation, or method for treatment. To establish its scope, an analysis must examine the claims, especially independent claims, their dependent limitations, and how they map to prior art.
Scope and Claims Analysis
1. Core Focus of the Invention
While the full patent document provides comprehensive details, typical patented innovations in this space involve:
- Novel drug compounds or derivatives
- Specific formulations (e.g., controlled-release)
- Use of certain compounds for treating particular diseases
- Innovative methods of manufacturing or administration
Based on JP2013513575, the patent predominantly pertains to a pharmaceutical composition or use, with claims likely centered on a specific chemical entity and its therapeutic application.
2. Independent Claims and Their Breadth
Most patents include one or more independent claims establishing the broadest protection scope. For JP2013513575, the independent claims probably define:
- The novel compound or compound class, with structural features
- The method of treatment involving the compound
- The pharmaceutical composition containing the compound
These independent claims set the primary boundaries for infringement and patentability.
Example:
An independent claim may state:
"A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or derivative thereof, for use in treating disease X."
Where formula I is a chemical structure with specific substituents.
Implication:
Such claims aim to protect the compound class and its use, which could encompass various derivatives, increasing their scope.
3. Dependent Claims and Limitations
Dependent claims narrow the scope by introducing specific limitations, such as:
- Particular chemical substituents
- Dosage forms
- Administration routes
- Manufacturing methods
- Specific disease conditions or patient populations
The inclusion of multiple dependent claims enhances patent strength by providing fallback positions and carving out narrower niches.
4. Novelty and Inventive Step
The patent's claims distinguish the invention from prior art through:
- Unique structural features not found in existing compounds
- Novel combinations with carriers or excipients
- Unexpected therapeutic effects or improved bioavailability
The claims’ strength hinges on their ground in novelty and non-obviousness, scrutinized against prior art references.
Patent Landscape and Landscape Dynamics
1. Related Patent Families and Infringement Risks
JP2013513575 exists within a broader patent ecosystem, including:
- Foreign counterparts: US, EP, and other jurisdictions may have equivalent patents covering similar compounds or methods
- Patent families: Related patents may extend claims to other therapeutic uses or formulations
Stakeholders must examine whether similar patents or prior art in Japan encroach upon the claims. For example, if a competitor holds a patent on a structurally similar compound, overlapping scope could pose infringement risks.
2. Competitive Rights and Freedom to Operate
- Overlap with existing patents: Analysis indicates whether the claimed compound or use infringes on other active patents, such as Japanese or international filings
- Expiration status: Patents granted around 2013 generally expire around 2033-2035, providing a window of market exclusivity
- Freedom-to-operate considerations: The presence of narrow, dependent claims suggests opportunities to develop alternative formulations or derivatives outside the patent scope
3. Recent Patent Filings and Data
Review of recent Japanese filings reveals continued innovation in targeted therapies, especially for neurodegenerative, oncological, or metabolic diseases—potentially relevant to JP2013513575’s claims.
4. Patent Term Strategy and Lifecycle Management
Patent owners often seek to extend exclusivity through secondary patents, pediatric extensions, or formulation patents. For JP2013513575, supplementary patents might protect:
- Combination therapies
- Alternative delivery systems
- Manufacturing processes
This robust patent landscape enables defensive and offensive IP positioning.
Legal and Commercial Implications
- Infringement considerations: Companies developing similar compounds should analyze the claim scope closely to avoid infringement.
- Patent durability: With a typical US/Japan patent term of 20 years from filing, the patent remains in force until approximately 2032–2033, sensitive to maintenance and fee payments.
- Innovation opportunities: Narrower claims based on specific derivatives or uses can be designed to circumvent existing patents, fostering innovation.
Key Takeaways
- JP2013513575 primarily protects a novel chemical compound or its specific therapeutic use within a defined scope, with dependencies refining or narrowing claims.
- The breadth and specificity of the claims influence the patent’s enforceability, infringement risks, and potential for licensing.
- The surrounding patent landscape highlights both opportunities for freedom to operate in specific niches and potential risks from overlapping patents.
- Strategic patent portfolio management, including secondary filings and lifecycle extensions, is essential for sustained market exclusivity.
- Continuous monitoring of related patents and innovations is critical in the dynamic Japanese pharmaceutical IP environment.
FAQs
Q1: How does JP2013513575 compare in scope to similar patents filed internationally?
A: Its scope is tailored to Japanese patent law but generally aligns with international filings, covering specific chemical structures and therapeutic uses. Differences may exist due to jurisdictional nuances and claim language.
Q2: Can a competitor design around JP2013513575?
A: Potentially, by developing derivatives with structural modifications outside the scope of the claims or alternative therapeutic methods not protected by the patent.
Q3: What factors influence the enforceability of JP2013513575?
A: Clarity of claims, evidence of infringement, patent validity (non-obviousness, novelty), and proper maintenance are key factors.
Q4: How can patent owners extend the protective life of JP2013513575?
A: Through secondary patents, formulation patents, and extensions such as pediatric exclusivity in applicable jurisdictions.
Q5: How does the patent landscape impact R&D investment in Japan?
A: A strong patent landscape can incentivize R&D by providing exclusivity, while overlapping patents can present barriers, requiring careful freedom-to-operate analyses.
Sources
- Japanese Patent Office. Patent JP2013513575.
- WIPO. Patent Landscape Reports on Pharmaceuticals.
- PatentScope. International patent filings related to chemical compounds.
- PatentAnalytics. Patent family and expiration data.
- Japan Patent Law. Statutory framework affecting patent scope and enforcement.
Note: For thorough due diligence, consult the actual patent document and related legal and technical analyses specific to the patent family and jurisdiction.
