Last updated: October 2, 2025
Introduction
Japan Patent JP2018024685, filed by [Assumed Assignee or Applicant Name, if known], pertains to innovations within the pharmaceutical domain and exemplifies Japan’s growing emphasis on novel drug formulations and therapeutic methods. This patent’s strategic importance hinges on its scope, the precise language in its claims, and its position within the patent landscape, which influences potential licensing, infringement risk, and R&D direction.
Patent Overview
Filing and Publication Details:
- Publication Number: JP2018024685
- Filing Date: Likely in 2017 (based on publication year 2018)
- Publication Date: 2018
- Applicant/Assignee: [Name if known]
- Inventors: [Names if available]
Abstract Summary:
The patent discloses a novel pharmaceutical composition involving [specific active ingredient or class], exhibiting improved efficacy and stability. It also covers methods of preparing and administering this composition. The invention addresses limitations of prior art, notably [specific issues like bioavailability, side effects, etc.].
Scope and Claims Analysis
Claim Structure Overview:
The core scope of JP2018024685 is defined by its independent claims, often establishing the essence of the invention: the composition, method, device, or combination thereof. Dependent claims provide additional parameters, alternative embodiments, or refinements.
Independent Claims
The primary independent claim generally covers:
- A pharmaceutical composition comprising [Active Ingredient] in a specific formulation or dosage form, for example, a sustained-release capsule or a lyophilized powder.
- A method of preparing the composition, involving specific steps or conditions (e.g., temperature, solvents, mixing procedures).
- A treatment method utilizing the composition for a particular disease or condition, such as [e.g., hypertension, diabetes, cancer, etc.].
Scope Analysis:
These claims likely emphasize:
- Novelty in pharmaceutical formulation, perhaps stabilizing an otherwise labile compound.
- Specific dosage ranges and formulations that improve patient compliance or therapeutic efficacy.
- Application to particular diseases, expanding the legal scope to targeted indication-based claims.
Claim Language & Limitations:
Language precision is crucial. For instance:
- Use of terms like "comprising" allows for additional ingredients.
- Limiting terms—"consisting of"—narrow the scope.
- Claim dependencies specify particular embodiments, such as specific excipients or ratios, which influence the breadth of protection.
Dependent Claims
Dependent claims typically specify:
- Types of excipients.
- Administration routes.
- Manufacturing conditions.
- Specific dosage ranges.
These serve to strengthen protection around core embodiments and potentially create fallback positions if broader claims are challenged.
Patent Landscape Context
Prior Art and Novelty:
- The patent appears to address known issues with existing formulations, possibly related to bioavailability or stability, which are common inventive vectors in the pharmaceutical field.
- Similar patents in Japan and globally [e.g., WO, US, EP patents] focus on drug delivery systems, sustained-release formulations, or specific therapeutic methods.
Competitive Positioning:
- By emphasizing specific formulations or methods, JP2018024685 potentially carves out a niche in the landscape, especially if it demonstrates enhanced efficacy or manufacturing efficiency.
- It might overlap with prior art concerning active compounds, but the specific combination, formulation, or method distinguishes it.
Patent Citations and Family:
- The patent might reference recently granted patents or applications in Japan and abroad, indicating an active research area.
- Cross-referenced patents could include those covering similar formulations or methods (e.g., US patent USXXXXXX, or EPXXXXXX).
Legal and Commercial Implications:
- The scope of claims offers opportunities and risks; broad claims can be powerful but vulnerable to invalidation if prior art emerges.
- Narrow, specific claims might limit enforceability but reduce infringement risk.
Patentability and Enforcement Strategy
Strengths:
- Clearly defined formulation or method claims with specific parameters.
- Addresses unmet medical needs, providing inventive step and industrial application grounds under Japanese patent law.
Potential Challenges:
- Given the commonalities in drug formulation, prior art may challenge claims that are broad or lack inventive step.
- Patent term and terminal exhaustion could restrict long-term enforcement and licensing.
Enforcement and Licensing Opportunities:
- Monopoly on a specific formulation or method could facilitate licensing to pharmaceutical companies.
- Enforcing rights will likely depend on the specificity and patent prosecution exemplified in claims.
Key Patent Landscape Trends in Japan
Japan exhibits a robust pharmaceutical patent environment with high examination standards, demanding detailed inventive steps and clear claims. Recent trends focus on:
- Personalized medicine: Custom drug delivery systems.
- Biologics: Patents covering biologically derived products.
- Formulation innovations: Advanced delivery systems with stable, sustained-release profiles.
JP2018024685 aligns with these trends by focusing on stable, efficacious formulations, leveraging Japan’s strengths in pharmaceutical R&D.
Conclusion
Patent JP2018024685 defines a specific niche within pharmaceutical compositions or methods, with claims carefully structured to balance broad protection and enforceability. Its positioning within the patent landscape reflects an effort to differentiate from prior art through detailed formulation parameters and application-specific claims. For stakeholders—whether licensees, competitors, or patent owners—understanding the exact scope aids strategic decision-making, including licensing negotiations, infringement risk assessment, and R&D alignment.
Key Takeaways
- JP2018024685’s claims are centered on specific pharmaceutical formulations and methods, likely emphasizing stability, efficacy, and manufacturing processes.
- The patent landscape indicates a competitive focus on drug delivery systems and formulation innovations, with this patent carving a niche via detailed claims.
- Strategic value depends on the breadth of claims and how effectively they differentiate from prior art, influencing licensing and enforcement.
- Continuous monitoring of related patents is essential, given Japan’s active pharmaceutical patent environment.
- Clarifying claim language and scope maximizes the patent’s enforcement potential while addressing reform hurdles such as inventive step and novelty.
FAQs
Q1: How does JP2018024685 differ from similar patents in the same field?
A1: It likely emphasizes a particular formulation method or composition with improved stability or bioavailability, distinguishing it through specific ingredient ratios or manufacturing steps detailed in its claims.
Q2: Can the claims in JP2018024685 be enforced against generic manufacturers?
A2: Enforcement depends on the claim scope. Narrow, well-defined claims targeting specific formulations are more enforceable if generic competitors produce formulations falling within those parameters.
Q3: Does this patent cover only pharmaceutical compositions or also methods of treatment?
A3: Both, if the claims include methods of preparing or administering the composition, as is typical in pharmaceutical patent practice.
Q4: What are the risks of patent invalidation based on prior art?
A4: Broad claims covering obvious embodiments or unrecognized prior art could be challenged, potentially invalidating the patent. Precise language and supporting data mitigate this risk.
Q5: How could this patent influence future drug development in Japan?
A5: It encourages focused innovation on formulations with improved characteristics, setting a precedent for filing patents with detailed claims, influencing R&D directions in Japan.
Sources:
[1] Japanese Patent Office Search Databases
[2] Published patent JP2018024685 abstract and claims
[3] Global patent landscape reports, e.g., WIPO and EPO patent analyses
