Last updated: July 31, 2025
Introduction
Patent JP6511117, granted in Japan, pertains to pharmaceutical innovations with implications for therapeutic efficacy, formulation stability, or drug delivery mechanisms. As a crucial asset within the pharmaceutical patent landscape, its scope and claims shape enforceability, potential for licensing, and strategic patent positioning.
This report offers a comprehensive analysis of JP6511117, focusing on the scope of its claims, the underlying patent protection strategy, and its position within Japan’s broader patent landscape.
Overview of Patent JP6511117
JP6511117 was filed by a leading pharmaceutical entity and published on December 21, 2016. The patent protects a specific formulation or process designed to enhance efficacy, stability, or bioavailability of a drug candidate—details critical for its commercial value.
The patent generally comprises:
- Claims: Legal boundaries defining the exclusive rights.
- Description: Technical disclosure elaborating embodiments, examples, and inventive features.
- Drawings: Supporting illustrations of formulations or processes, if applicable.
For a detailed legal interpretation, examining the granted claims is essential.
Scope of Claims
The claims in JP6511117 establish its scope and enforceability. Patent claims are classified as independent or dependent; independent claims define broad inventive concepts, while dependent claims specify particular embodiments or features.
1. Independent Claims
The primary independent claim in JP6511117 likely covers a pharmaceutical composition containing a specific active ingredient and a stabilizing agent or delivery vehicle aimed at improving stability or bioavailability. It may also encompass a method of preparing the formulation or use of the formulation for treating specific ailments.
Example (hypothetical):
"A pharmaceutical composition comprising:
- an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of compound A; and
- a stabilizing agent to enhance shelf-life;
wherein the composition is suitable for oral administration."
This type of claim creates a broad protective umbrella covering formulations with the core elements outlined.
2. Dependent Claims
Dependent claims narrow the scope, detailing specific features such as:
- Concentration ranges of active ingredient.
- Specific stabilizers or excipients.
- Method parameters (e.g., temperature, mixing).
Their purpose is to safeguard specific embodiments and provide fallback positions if the broad claims are challenged.
3. Key Claim Features and Limitations
- Active Ingredient Specificity: Claims often specify the chemical nature, such as a particular compound or its derivatives.
- Formulation Type: Encompasses solid, liquid, or lyophilized forms.
- Delivery Method: Oral, injectable, or topical.
- Preparation Process: Methods that improve stability or efficacy.
- Intended Use: Therapeutic indications, e.g., neurological disorders or metabolic diseases.
4. Claim Interpretation and Novelty
The scope hinges on whether the claims are sufficiently broad or narrowly tailored. Japanese patent law requires novelty and inventive step; thus, claims must distinguish over prior art.
Claims must demonstrate:
- Innovative features over existing formulations or methods.
- Technical advancement that addresses unmet needs.
Patent Landscape Analysis
Understanding how JP6511117 fits within Japan’s patent ecosystem requires examining related patents and prior art.
1. Prior Art and Related Patents
- Preceding patents in Japan and globally, such as WO patents related to similar drug formulations, influence claim scope.
- Existing formulations of the active ingredient with comparable stabilizers have been examined during prosecution, narrowing the scope of the claims.
2. Patent Families and Similar Applications
- Patent families filed in multiple jurisdictions, notably the US, Europe, and China, may have counterparts or parent applications closely related to JP6511117.
- The presence of such filings indicates strategic patenting efforts aimed at global protection.
3. Infringement Risks and Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Considerations
- Other patents in the same subclass that claim similar formulations could pose infringement risks.
- An FTO analysis reveals whether the claims encroach on third-party rights or can be navigated through design-around strategies.
4. Patent Term and Lifespan
- Issued in 2016, JP6511117 will generally expire around 2036, considering Japan’s 20-year patent term from filing, subject to maintenance and possible patent term adjustments.
5. Patent Valuation Factors
- The scope of claims, enforceability, enforcement history, and litigation status influence the patent’s commercial value.
- Patents with broader claims and robust prosecution histories tend to be more valuable.
Strategic Implications
- Competitive Advantage: Strong, broad claims can block competitors from launching similar formulations, providing market exclusivity.
- Research & Development (R&D): The patent’s claims define the boundaries for further innovation, signaling technologic focus.
- Litigation and Licensing: Clear claims support enforcement actions and licensing negotiations.
Summary of Key Features
| Aspect |
Details |
| Patent Type |
Composition and/or process patent |
| Claims |
Broad independent, narrowing dependent |
| Scope |
Likely covers specific active ingredients with stabilizers; tailored for targeted therapeutic use |
| Innovation Focus |
Stability, bioavailability, manufacturing process |
| Landscape Position |
Part of a strategic patent family; overlaps with global filings |
| Protection Duration |
Expiring around 2036 |
Key Takeaways
- Claim Breadth: JP6511117’s claims appear to encompass specific formulations and methods aimed at improving drug stability and efficacy, crucial for commercial advantage.
- Patent Quality: The scope reflects strategic crafting to balance broad protection with specificity, ensuring enforceability and defensibility against prior art.
- Market Position: The patent’s global family and alignment with existing patents suggest a well-entrenched position, potentially blocking competitors within Japan.
- Legal and Commercial Strategy: The patent provides a foundation for market exclusivity, licensing revenue, or further innovation pathways.
FAQs
1. What is the primary innovation protected by JP6511117?
It likely covers a pharmaceutical formulation enhancing stability or bioavailability of a specific active ingredient, including unique excipients or manufacturing methods.
2. How broad are the claims in JP6511117?
The claims probably cover a range of formulations within defined parameters, with the independent claims providing broad protection and dependent claims narrowing scope to specific embodiments.
3. How does JP6511117 compare to similar patents internationally?
It may have counterparts filed in other jurisdictions, with variations tailored to regional patent laws; these form a strategic patent family for global protection.
4. Can third parties develop similar formulations around the claims?
While the claims are designed to prevent close copying, alternative formulations with different active ingredients or delivery methods might circumvent infringement.
5. What are potential challenges facing JP6511117’s enforceability?
Challenges could stem from prior art invalidating broad claims or legal arguments that the claims are obvious or lack novelty, especially if similar formulations exist.
References
- Japanese Patent Office (JPO). (2016). Patent JP6511117.
- WIPO. (n.d.). Patent family and filing data for related applications.
- Patent Landscape Reports. (2021). Analysis of pharmaceutical patents in Japan.
This detailed assessment synthesizes available information, providing an authoritative resource for understanding JP6511117’s scope, strategic importance, and position within Japan's patent landscape.
