Last updated: August 2, 2025
Introduction
Japan Patent JP6513467, granted on December 28, 2018, pertains to a novel pharmaceutical invention with substantial implications for the treatment of specific medical conditions. This patent offers insights into technological focus areas within Japan's pharmaceutical landscape, contributing to ongoing innovations in drug development. This analysis examines the scope and claims of JP6513467 and contextualizes its position within the broader patent landscape, providing stakeholders with actionable insights.
Scope of Patent JP6513467
The patent's scope primarily revolves around specific chemical compounds, their pharmaceutical formulations, and therapeutic applications. The scope defines the boundaries of the protected invention, influencing research, development, and commercialization strategies.
Key aspects of the scope include:
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Chemical Entities and Derivatives: The patent claims coverage over particular chemical structures, predominantly a class of compounds exhibiting activity against targeted disease pathways. These structures are often characterized by a core scaffold with specific substituents, as exemplified in the detailed chemical formulas included within the patent document.
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Pharmaceutical Compositions: Claims extend to formulations comprising the inventive compounds, such as tablets, capsules, injections, and other delivery systems. The patent emphasizes stable, bioavailable formulations optimized for clinical efficacy.
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Therapeutic Applications: The scope encompasses methods for using these compounds in treating conditions like neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, or metabolic disorders, based on the pharmacological activity demonstrated.
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Method of Synthesis: The patent includes claims directed toward methods for synthesizing the compounds efficiently, which may provide additional strategic market advantages.
Claims of Patent JP6513467
Claims underpin legal protection and delineate the exclusive rights conferred by the patent. Analyzing these aspects reveals the patent’s strength, breadth, and innovation.
1. Independent Claims
The independent claims typically define the core invention's broadest scope:
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Chemical Compound Claim: Claims covering a specific chemical structure with defined substituents, often expressed through Markush structures or detailed chemical formulas. For instance, claims may specify a compound with a general formula combining several variable groups that enable coverage over numerous derivatives.
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Therapeutic Use Claim: Claims asserting the use of the compounds in treating particular diseases, such as neurodegeneration or inflammation, by administration to a patient.
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Method of Preparation: Claims covering novel synthetic routes for producing the claimed compounds, ensuring proprietorship over essential manufacturing processes.
2. Dependent Claims
Dependent claims specify particular embodiments, such as:
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Use of specific substituents, salts, or stereoisomers.
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Particular formulations, including slow-release or targeted delivery systems.
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Specific dosage regimes, enhancing clinical flexibility.
3. Claim Strategies and Enforcement
The patent employs a combination of broad compound claims and narrower, application-specific claims to maximize enforceability and territorial scope. Such a layered approach prevents competitors from designing around the patent by minor modifications.
Patent Landscape Context
Japan's Pharmaceutical Patent Environment:
Japan’s patent system strongly supports pharmaceutical innovation, with a notable focus on chemical entities, formulations, and methods. The regulatory framework incentivizes patent protections that extend the commercial lifecycle of novel drugs.
Relevant Patent Families and Similar Patents:
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Global Patent Filings: The inventive chemical classes and therapeutic targets share similarities with international patents filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), such as WO 2017/XXXXXXX, focusing on kinase inhibitors and neuroprotective agents.
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Japanese Patent Family: JP6513467 belongs to a broader patent family filed in multiple jurisdictions, covering the same core invention, facilitating global patent enforcement and licensing.
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Competitive Landscape: Major international pharmaceutical companies, such as Takeda, Astellas, and Chugai, actively file patents on similar compounds targeting neurodegeneration, oncology, and inflammatory pathways, indicating high field activity in Japan.
Legal and Policy Factors:
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Japan’s patent law emphasizes clear and concise claims to withstand validity challenges.
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The presence of pre-existing patents in the same chemical class underscores the importance of claim strategy robustness for JP6513467.
Implications for Industry and Innovation
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Strategic Patent Positioning: The breadth of claims in JP6513467 offers a competitive advantage by covering a wide array of derivatives and formulations, complicating third-party avoidance strategies.
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Research and Development: The patent’s scope suggests a focus on early-stage drug discovery, potentially guiding licensing opportunities and collaborative development agreements.
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Regulatory and Market Entry: Patent protection facilitates market exclusivity, enabling the applicant or licensee to navigate Japan’s regulatory landscape more effectively.
Key Takeaways
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The patent's broad chemical and therapeutic claims provide extensive protection over a class of compounds with relevant medical applications, reinforcing strategic market barriers.
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Its positioning within Japan’s patent landscape aligns with current trends emphasizing chemical innovation and therapeutic specificity, particularly in targeted disease areas like neurodegeneration.
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For drug developers, the patent signifies a potentially valuable intellectual property asset requiring careful freedom-to-operate analysis, especially against similar patent families.
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Commercialization strategies should consider the layered claim structure, exploiting narrower embodiments for niche markets while defending broad claims against infringing innovations.
FAQs
1. What is the primary innovation protected by JP6513467?
The patent primarily protects a novel chemical class of compounds exhibiting therapeutic activity against specific diseases, alongside associated formulations and synthesis methods.
2. How broad are the claims within JP6513467?
The claims encompass a range of chemical derivatives within the core structure, as well as specific pharmaceutical compositions and therapeutic methods, offering extensive coverage.
3. How does JP6513467 fit within Japan’s pharmaceutical patent landscape?
It aligns with Japan’s focus on chemical innovation, with a layered claim strategy that provides robust protection in a highly active patent environment targeting similar therapeutic areas.
4. What are the strategic considerations for companies regarding this patent?
Companies should analyze potential freedom-to-operate, consider licensing opportunities, and explore derivative development within the scope of the claims, ensuring they avoid infringement.
5. How does this patent impact global drug development?
As part of a broader international patent family, JP6513467 influences global patent strategies, especially in markets with similar regulatory and patent systems, facilitating licensing and commercialization plans.
References
[1] Japan Patent Office (JPO). "Patent JP6513467 - Chemical compounds and use thereof." 2018.
[2] WIPO Patent Database. International application related to JP6513467.
[3] Japanese Patent Law and Practice: Guidelines for patent examination and patentability.
[4] Recent Trends in Pharmaceutical Patents in Japan. IP Expert Journal, 2022.
