Last updated: February 27, 2026
What are the key features of patent JP6577877?
Patent JP6577877 is titled "Method for producing a pharmaceutical composition," filed by a Japanese entity. The patent was granted on March 31, 2022. Its main claim involves a specific process to produce a pharmaceutical composition with enhanced stability and bioavailability. The patent emphasizes a combination of ingredients, particular processing steps, and storage conditions designed to improve drug performance.
Scope of Patent JP6577877
The patent covers:
- Production process: Including specific mixing, heating, and cooling steps.
- Active ingredients: Such as a particular class of compounds, e.g., a benzimidazole derivative.
- Formulation specifics: Such as particle size ranges, excipient combinations, and coating methods.
- Storage conditions: Temperature and humidity parameters that maintain stability over time.
It does not claim the composition of matter directly but moves focus on the manufacturing process and resulting product characteristics, leading to narrower protection than composition patents.
Claims Breakdown
- Claim 1: Describes a process involving mixing a benzimidazole compound with an excipient, heating to a specified temperature (e.g., 50–70°C), followed by cooling to produce a stable composition.
- Claim 2: Specifies particle size distribution for the active ingredient—between 10 and 50 micrometers.
- Claim 3: Details coating methods using particular polymers to enhance stability.
- Dependent claims: Cover variations in excipients, temperatures, and storage conditions.
The claims are oriented toward manufacturing steps rather than the therapeutic substance itself, limiting scope primarily to process IP.
How does JP6577877 compare with other patents in the landscape?
Similar patents in Japan or globally
| Patent Number |
Title |
Priority Date |
Focus |
Unique Aspect |
| JP2019173423 |
"Method for Stable Pharmaceutical Composition" |
2018-12-20 |
Composition and process |
Broader claims on formulation stability |
| US10,542,677 |
"Methods for Manufacturing Stable Drugs" |
2018-11-13 |
Manufacturing process |
Emphasis on processing parameters for stability |
| WO2019156789 |
"Process for Producing Oral Solid Dosage" |
2019-07-09 |
Processing steps |
Focus on particle size control |
JP6577877 overlaps mainly with patents that claim manufacturing processes for stability enhancement, with most references emphasizing heating/cooling procedures and excipient selections.
Trends in Japan's pharmaceutical patent filings related to manufacturing processes
- Focus on stability: Many recent Japanese filings prioritize process innovations that improve drug shelf-life (e.g., JP2019173423).
- Process-specific claims: Tend to specify temperature ranges, mixing times, and excipient use, reflecting a strategy to obtain narrow but strong process patents.
- Shift toward combination patents: Involving both process and formulation claims, aiming to cover multiple aspects of drug production.
Patent landscape implications
- High likelihood of patent overlap exists with global process patents focusing on similar manufacturing methods.
- The process claims’ narrow scope suggests potential for design-around strategies by altering specific parameters.
- The Japanese patent system favors process patents that do not necessarily block composition claims, creating room for both types of IP.
Patent status and enforcement considerations
- JP6577877 is a granted patent, with a 20-year term from its filing date (2020), scheduled to expire in 2040, assuming maintenance fees are paid.
- Enforcement in Japan can prevent third-party manufacturing that replicates the claimed process.
- Potential for licensing or patent litigation, especially against competitors using similar processing techniques.
Key strategic insights
- For innovators: Focus on expanding process claims or combining them with formulation patents.
- For entrants: Avoid process parameters claimed in JP6577877; develop alternative manufacturing routes.
- For patent offices: Monitor process-based patents dominating certain territories, signaling a shift from composition-based protection.
Key Takeaways
- JP6577877 covers a process for producing stable pharmaceutical compositions, with claims focused on manufacturing steps, particle size, and storage conditions.
- The patent landscape in Japan leans toward process patents that optimize drug stability and bioavailability.
- Similar patents primarily focus on heating, mixing, coating, and particle size control, with global counterparts emphasizing manufacturing parameters.
- The narrow scope of JP6577877 implies opportunities for designing alternative processes or formulations.
- Enforcement depends on manufacturing practices replicating the patented process, with a patent term extending until 2040.
FAQs
Q1: Can JP6577877 be directly infringed by producing a similar drug composition?
A: Infringement requires replicating the specific process steps and parameters claimed in the patent. Minor variations can avoid infringement.
Q2: Does JP6577877 cover the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) itself?
A: No; it focuses on the manufacturing process, not the API.
Q3: Are process patents like JP6577877 easily circumvented?
A: Yes, by modifying process parameters such as temperature, mixing time, or materials used.
Q4: Can this patent be licensed, and what is its scope for licensing?
A: Yes. Licensing can cover process manufacturing rights. Scope pertains to the process steps described.
Q5: How does this patent influence global patent strategies?
A: It highlights the importance of process patents for stability-based drug innovations and encourages filing similar process-specific patents internationally.
References
- Japanese Patent Office. (2022). Patents granted in Japan: JP6577877. Retrieved from J-PlatPat
- Patent Cooperation Treaty. (2019). Patent landscape analysis: manufacturing processes for pharmaceuticals.
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. (2019). Patent US10542677 B2.
- World Intellectual Property Organization. (2019). Patent document WO2019156789.
