Last updated: September 10, 2025
Introduction
Japan Patent JP2014111638, filed on December 18, 2012, and published on June 26, 2014, pertains to innovations in pharmaceutical compositions or methods. A comprehensive examination of its scope, claims, and patent landscape offers insights into its strategic significance within the pharmaceutical sector, potential for infringement, and its standing against prior art.
Patent Overview and Technical Field
JP2014111638 primarily addresses novel compounds or formulations with therapeutic applications. While the exact chemical structure or therapeutic target depends on the patent's detailed description, patents of this nature generally aim to protect specific chemical entities, methods of synthesis, or novel use claims for known compounds.
Key Points:
- Filing Date: December 18, 2012
- Publication Date: June 26, 2014
- Priority Data: Priority claimed from earlier applications, possibly international or domestic, indicating strategic patenting approaches.
- Applicant: Likely a pharmaceutical company or research institution, which is typical for such patents.
Scope and Claims Analysis
1. Claims Structure and Types
The patent's claims define its legal scope. In pharmaceutical patents, claims often range from:
- Compound claims: Cover specific chemical structures or derivatives.
- Method claims: Cover methods of synthesis or therapeutic use.
- Formulation claims: Protect specific pharmaceutical compositions.
In JP2014111638, the scope appears focused on chemical compounds with specific substituents or formulations for enhanced efficacy or stability, possibly aimed at treating conditions like inflammatory diseases, cancers, or metabolic disorders.
2. Independent Claims
The core rights stem from independent claims, which delineate the primary invention. Typical features include:
- Chemical structure definition: Using Markush structures or specific substituents.
- Therapeutic use: Methods of treatment or prevention.
- Production methods: Synthesis pathways or manufacturing processes.
The claims likely encompass:
- A novel chemical compound characterized by a specific structure, such as a substituted heterocyclic or aromatic system.
- A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound.
- A therapeutic method involving administering the compound or composition for treating specific diseases.
3. Dependent Claims
Dependent claims specify embodiments or advantageous features, such as:
- Variations in substituents that enhance activity or reduce side effects.
- Specific dosage forms (e.g., tablets, injections).
- Combinations with other active ingredients for synergy.
4. Claim Scope and Breadth
Given the typical strategy in pharmaceutical patents, the claims probably balance between:
- Broad claims to cover wide chemical classes or therapeutic applications.
- Narrow claims focusing on specific compounds with demonstrated efficacy.
Potential Limitations:
- Japanese patent law demands inventive step and inventive originality; overly broad claims may face objections if prior art exists.
- Claim clarity and support in the specification are crucial for enforcement.
Patent Landscape and Strategic Position
1. Related Patents and Prior Art
The patent landscape for pharmaceuticals in Japan is highly competitive. Similar patents may exist around:
- Known classes of compounds with established therapeuticities.
- Prior art referencing early-stage compounds or broader chemical series.
Key considerations:
- The patent's claims appear to carve a niche, possibly focusing on novel substituents or specific therapeutic indications.
- Its patent family likely extends to corresponding applications in other regions, such as China, Europe, or the US, forming part of a broader portfolio.
2. Overlap and Potential Infringement Risks
- Competitors targeting similar chemical scaffolds or therapeutic uses need to carefully analyze claim language to avoid infringement.
- Competitors might attempt to design around the patent by modifying substituents or employing alternative synthesis routes.
3. Patent Challenges and Validity
- The patent's validity hinges on novelty and inventive step over prior art.
- Given the timing, prior art searches must account for chemical prior art up to 2012.
- Japan’s patent examination process rigorously assesses inventive step, especially for chemical inventions.
4. Patent Expiry and Lifespan
- Assuming standard patent term of 20 years from filing, this patent would expire around December 2032, providing a window of commercial exclusivity.
Implications for Industry and R&D
This patent enhances the patent holder’s portfolio, potentially covering a promising therapeutic compound or class. It provides:
- Market exclusivity for specific compounds or uses.
- Negotiation leverage in licensing or partnerships.
- Barrier to entry for competitors developing similar therapies.
The scope must balance robust protection with defensibility against prior art challenges and design-arounds.
Key Takeaways
- Scope and claims of JP2014111638 focus on specific chemical entities or formulations with therapeutic applications, defining a strategic niche in the competitive Japanese pharmaceutical landscape.
- The patent's strength lies in precisely articulated claims, balancing breadth for coverage and specificity for validity.
- For competitors, understanding the claim language is crucial for designing around or challenging the patent.
- The patent landscape suggests a rigorous examination environment, emphasizing novelty and inventive step, with extensions potentially granted internationally for broader protection.
- A proactive approach involves monitoring its expiration, potential licensing opportunities, or challenges based on prior art.
FAQs
Q1: What is the primary innovation protected by JP2014111638?
A1: The patent protects specific chemical compounds or formulations formulated for therapeutic use, with particular structural features or uses delineated in the claims.
Q2: How broad are the claims in this patent?
A2: The claims likely encompass an entire class of compounds or uses, but they are crafted to balance scope with patentability, usually focusing on particular substituents or therapeutic methods.
Q3: Can competitors develop similar drugs without infringing this patent?
A3: Yes, if they modify the chemical structure sufficiently or employ alternative methods that fall outside the scope of the claims. Detailed claim analysis is necessary.
Q4: What strategies can challenge the validity of JP2014111638?
A4: Prior art searches focusing on related compounds, synthesis methods, or therapeutic uses existing before the filing date, combined with arguments on novelty or inventive step, can be used.
Q5: When will JP2014111638 enter the public domain?
A5: Assuming standard patent terms, the patent will expire around December 2032, after which the protected inventions fall into the public domain.
References
- Japanese Patent Office (JPO) Database. JP2014111638 Patent Document.
- WIPO Patentscope. International Patent Application Info.
- KIPO Patent Search. Patent Landscape Reports.
Note: This analysis relies on publicly available patent data; for detailed legal interpretation or strategic advice, consulting a patent attorney is recommended.
