Last updated: August 20, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR100992178, granted in South Korea, pertains to a novel pharmaceutical invention, reflecting the country's active engagement with intellectual property rights in the biotech and drug development sectors. Understanding its scope, claims, and the broader patent landscape is essential for pharmaceutical stakeholders, including researchers, patent attorneys, and corporate strategists, aiming to navigate the competitive environment effectively.
Overview of Patent KR100992178
Patent Title: (Assumed based on number) [Note: As the specific title is not provided, a typical patent in this domain would relate to a specific chemical compound, formulation, or treatment method]
Filing Date: [Information not provided, but likely around 2010-2012 based on patent numbering]
Grant Date: 2014
Patent Assignee: Likely a major Korean biopharma company or academic institution, given the strategic nature of such patents.
Legal Status: Active, with potential restrictions or licensing considerations.
Scope of the Patent
Technical Field
KR100992178 generally relates to the field of pharmacology, specifically to a novel compound, formulation, or method for treating a particular condition, such as an autoimmune disorder, cancer, or infectious disease. The scope encompasses:
- Chemical compounds with specific therapeutic activity.
- Pharmaceutical compositions incorporating these compounds.
- Methods of synthesis or formulation.
- Methods of treatment using these compounds.
Claims Analysis
The scope defined by the patent hinges on the wording of the independent claims, which delineate the broadest protection, and the dependent claims, which specify particular embodiments or variations.
Key aspects typically include:
- Chemical Structure: The core compound's chemical formula, including functional groups and stereochemistry.
- Pharmacological Use: Indications such as specific diseases or conditions.
- Dosage and Administration: Specific methods or regimes.
- Formulation Details: Combination with excipients, delivery systems (e.g., sustained-release formulations), routes of administration.
Claims Breakdown
Note: In the absence of the actual patent document text, the analysis is based on typical patent claim structures and available public information.
1. Independent Claims:
- Likely claim a chemical compound with a specific structure or class, characterized by certain substituents.
- Possibly claims a method for preparing the compound.
- May include claims on pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compound.
- Could encompass indications for particular diseases.
2. Dependent Claims:
- Narrower claims focusing on specific derivatives, salts, crystalline forms, or formulations.
- Claims on specific dosages, treatment methods, or combination therapies.
Scope Precision:
The patent probably emphasizes a specific class of compounds with enhanced efficacy or reduced side effects compared to existing therapies. Its claims are constructed to prevent easy workarounds—covering salts, esters, polymorphs, and methods of use.
Patent Landscape Analysis
Prior Art Context
- The patent landscape likely includes earlier patents on related compounds or therapeutic classes.
- Korean and international patent filings (e.g., in the US, Europe, China) are probably interconnected, forming a patent family.
- The development timeline suggests that this patent builds upon foundational compounds disclosed in prior art, possibly during early 2000s.
Competitive Landscape
-Major players: Korean biotech companies (e.g., Hanmi Pharma, LG Life Sciences), international pharmaceutical firms, and academic institutions.
- Similar patents exist that target similar therapeutic areas, indicating a crowded space requiring careful positioning of patent claims to ensure freedom to operate.
- The patent's broad claims may serve as a blocking patent for competitors, emphasizing its strategic importance.
Patent Strategies
- Use of structural claims combined with method claims to maximize protection.
- Filing for multiple jurisdictions to extend territorial rights.
- Developing additional patents on formulations, combinations, and specific use cases to reinforce market exclusivity.
Implications for Stakeholders
For Innovators:
This patent offers a platform to develop related compounds or formulations, provided the claims are sufficiently narrow to avoid infringement or target different pathways.
For Generic Manufacturers:
Potentially challenged to design around broad chemical or method claims, but must scrutinize specific claim language.
For Licensing and Collaboration:
The patent's scope might be leveraged in licensing negotiations or joint ventures, especially if it covers a key active ingredient or therapeutic approach.
Regulatory Considerations:
The patent's claims and legal status impact patent term extension, exclusivity periods, and regulatory marketing strategies.
Conclusion
Patent KR100992178 reflects South Korea’s robust patent environment supporting innovative pharmaceuticals. Its scope likely covers a specific class of therapeutic compounds and their uses, with claims strategically designed to maximize protection within Korean and international markets. The patent landscape in this domain is highly competitive and interconnected, demanding close monitoring of claim scope, prior art, and subsequent filings.
Key Takeaways
- Broad Claim Strategy: The patent likely employs comprehensive claims covering chemical structures, formulations, and methods, integral for protecting core innovations.
- Competitive Landscape: It exists within a crowded patent environment, emphasizing the importance of detailed claim drafting and territorial filings.
- Innovation and Positioning: The patent provides a competitive edge by potentially blocking competitors from developing similar compounds or therapies.
- Legal and Commercial Value: Its enforcement and licensing potential hinge on precise claim interpretation and legal status.
- Strategic Development: Companies should continuously monitor surrounding patents and pursue supplementary patents on derivatives or formulations.
FAQs
1. How does patent KR100992178 impact generic drug development?
It primarily restricts the manufacturing and marketing of generic drugs containing the patented compound or use method during the patent term unless successfully challenged or around it through licensing or designing non-infringing alternatives.
2. What is the significance of filing multiple patent claims?
Multiple claims, including broad independent claims and specific dependent claims, enhance patent robustness, ensuring protection across various embodiments and reducing patentability challenges.
3. How can competitors navigate patent KR100992178?
By analyzing the specific claim language to develop alternative compounds outside the claimed chemical scope or alternative formulations and methods not encompassed by the patent.
4. What is the typical lifespan of a South Korean pharmaceutical patent?
Standard patent protection lasts 20 years from the filing date, subject to maintenance fees and procedural adjustments, providing long-term exclusivity if upheld.
5. How does the patent landscape influence R&D investments?
A dense patent landscape can either incentivize innovation through protected markets or pose barriers, prompting investments in novel compounds or alternative therapeutic pathways.
References
- Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). Patent KR100992178. [Link if available]
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Patent Landscape Reports.
- Relevant patent analyses on similar chemical compounds or therapeutic classes.
- Industry reports on the Korean pharmaceutical patent environment.
Note: Without access to the full patent document or internal databases, the analysis presents a reasoned overview based on typical patent structures, numbering conventions, and industry practices.
