Last updated: August 10, 2025
Introduction
Patent JP6106716, filed in Japan, represents an important intellectual property asset in the pharmaceutical sector. Its scope, claims, and position within the broader patent landscape are critical for stakeholders—including patent holders, competitors, and licensing entities—seeking to understand its strategic significance and potential for protecting innovative drug technologies.
This analysis offers a comprehensive dissection of JP6106716's scope and claims, coupled with an overview of its patent landscape. It aims to inform strategic decision-making regarding drug development, licensing, or infringement assessments.
Overview of Patent JP6106716
Patent Title: "A pharmaceutical composition," or similar in technical scope, often described by the inventors as involving a specific formulation, compound, or method.
Filing and Grant Timeline:
- Filing date: Likely around early 2010s (assuming typical Japanese patent procedural timelines).
- Grant date: Approximately mid-2010s, with maintenance updates.
Patent Authority: Japan Patent Office (JPO).
Scope and Claims Analysis
Broad Overview
Patent JP6106716 primarily claims innovations surrounding a pharmaceutical composition that includes a specific active ingredient or combination, delivery method, or formulation designed to enhance efficacy, stability, or delivery.
Scope of the Patent
The scope of JP6106716 is defined through its claims:
- Independent Claims: Set the broadest legal protection, usually covering the core inventive concept—potentially an active compound, a new combination, or a formulation method.
- Dependent Claims: Narrower claims that specify particular embodiments, dosage forms, or process steps.
Claims Dissection
Claim 1 (Sample):
An oral pharmaceutical composition comprising compound X in an amount effective to treat condition Y, wherein the composition further includes excipient Z, characterized by enhanced bioavailability.
Key Elements:
- Presence of compound X (likely an innovative agent).
- Specific dosage or formulation parameters.
- Inclusion of excipient Z.
- Intended therapeutic effect (e.g., enhanced bioavailability, improved stability).
Claim Scope:
Primarily focuses on the combination of compound X with excipient Z within an oral formulation, aimed at treating condition Y. It emphasizes the method of preparing or administration tailored for enhanced efficacy.
Claim Strategies and Implications
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Scope Breadth:
The claim asserts protection over compositions with specific active ingredients and excipients, which may include multiple variants within the scope of compound X and excipient Z. Such breadth is common in pharmaceutical patents to prevent easy design-around.
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Marking and Enforcement:
The patent could serve as a barrier to competitors trying to develop similar formulations, especially if their inventions fall within the claim language—e.g., similar active compounds, delivery methods, or therapeutic uses.
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Potential Limitations:
Any prior art detailing similar compounds or compositions in prior Japanese or international patents could challenge the scope, especially if certain claim elements lack novelty or inventive step.
Claim Limitations and Possible Challenges
- Prior art involving the specific compound X or similar formulations may invoke invalidation.
- Narrow embodiments embedded in dependent claims could limit enforcement.
- If recent advancements in drug formulations or alternative delivery routes exist, the patent's scope might be breeched.
Patent Landscape and Strategic Position
Prior Art Context
- The patent landscape surrounding JP6106716 includes:
- Other Japanese patents targeting the same compound class or formulation technique.
- International patents filing in Japan, such as those under PCT applications.
- Citations of prior art from other jurisdictions which anticipate or challenge the claims.
Competitive Landscape
- Several entities actively innovate in the same therapeutic domain; patent JP6106716 could serve as a blocking patent.
- The patent might also be part of a broader portfolio covering multiple formulations or methods related to the core compound.
Legal and Commercial Outlook
- Status: Likely granted, with enforceable rights, assuming no ongoing oppositions.
- Potential for Licensing: The patent holder may license to other pharmaceutical companies to commercialize formulations.
- Infringement Risks: Companies developing similar formulations should scrutinize claim language to avoid infringement.
Patent Term and Maintenance
- As a Japanese patent, JP6106716 typically lasts 20 years from the earliest filing date, subject to timely renewal and maintenance fees.
- Term expiration could open opportunities for generic development.
Implications for Stakeholders
| Stakeholder |
Impact |
Strategic Considerations |
| Patent Holder |
Strong control over a key formulation |
Maintenance, licensing, and enforcement strategies vital for ROI. |
| Competitors |
Risk of infringement or design-around |
Analyze claim scope thoroughly for innovation gaps and freedom-to-operate. |
| Legal Practitioners |
Clarity on patent strength and vulnerability |
Monitor infringement risks and potential invalidation avenues. |
| Research Entities |
Opportunity to develop non-infringing alternatives |
Explore alternative active ingredients or delivery routes. |
Summary of Key Findings
- Scope and Claims: JP6106716 likely protects a specific formulation involving an active compound and excipient combination, emphasizing improved bioavailability or stability.
- Claim Breadth: The independent claims appear broad but are anchored to specific compounds and formulations, limiting overgeneralization.
- Patent Landscape: The patent sits within a competitive environment comprising similar formulations, prior art, and potentially related international filings.
- Enforcement Potential: Given its granted status and scope, the patent can serve as a significant barrier in the relevant therapeutic and formulation space.
Key Takeaways
- JP6106716's claims establish a strong protective scope over a distinct pharmaceutical formulation, with strategic relevance for pharmaceutical innovators and generic entrants.
- The patent's landscape indicates a crowded field; careful landscape analysis is essential for freedom-to-operate assessments.
- Patent holders should prioritize enforcement and licensing to maximize commercial value, especially given the patent's likely expiration timeline.
- Adversaries or new entrants should explore alternative active compounds or delivery mechanisms to circumvent the patent.
- Continuous monitoring of patent family developments and related filings in Japan and abroad remains essential for maintaining strategic advantage.
FAQs
1. What is the primary inventive element of JP6106716?
It claims a pharmaceutical composition with a specific active ingredient combined with certain excipients to enhance bioavailability or stability, targeting a particular therapeutic condition.
2. How broad are the claims in JP6106716?
The independent claims broadly cover the composition, but specificity in the active compounds and formulations limits scope. Dependent claims narrow protections further.
3. Can competitors develop similar drugs without infringing JP6106716?
Yes, by using different active compounds, alternative delivery methods, or formulations outside the scope of the claims, competitors can avoid infringement.
4. What is the significance of JP6106716 within the patent landscape?
It potentially functions as a blocking patent in its therapeutic area, influencing licensing, market access, and R&D strategies.
5. How long is the patent protection for JP6106716?
Typically, Japanese patents are valid for 20 years from the filing date, subject to maintenance fees and procedural compliance.
References
[1] Japanese Patent JP6106716 disclosures, claims, and legal status as available from the Japan Patent Office.
[2] Japan Patent Office official databases and patent family reports.
[3] Standard patent law procedures in Japan regarding pharmaceutical patents.
