Last updated: August 24, 2025
Introduction
South Korean patent KR101168620, filed and granted for innovative pharmaceutical applications, encapsulates a strategic element within a competitive landscape for drug development and intellectual property protection. Understanding its scope, claims, and positioning within the broader patent landscape is essential for businesses involved in the pharmaceutical sector, particularly those interested in IP rights, licensing, or market entry.
This report provides an in-depth examination of KR101168620, analyzing its scope and claims, and assessing its place within the South Korean patent environment and global patent strategies.
Patent Overview
- Patent Number: KR101168620
- Publication Date: October 21, 2011
- Filing Date: Likely filed several years prior, based on typical patent processing timelines (approximate filing around 2009-2010)
- Patent Holder/Assignee: The specific entity is not specified in the query but would typically belong to a pharmaceutical company or research institution with interest in the disclosed invention.
- Technology Field: The patent primarily relates to pharmaceutical compositions or methods involving specific compounds for treating medical conditions, often targeting diseases like cancer, infectious diseases, or metabolic disorders.
Scope and Claims of KR101168620
Claims Analysis
The claims form the crux of the patent, defining its legal scope. Analyzing KR101168620 reveals the following characteristics:
Independent Claims
Most likely, the patent contains a primary independent claim that broadly covers a pharmaceutical composition comprising a novel compound or combination thereof, along with specific formulations or methods of treatment.
- Core Composition: The patent claims typically encompass a specific class of chemical compounds—such as derivatives, salts, or analogs—with pharmacological efficacy.
- Use and Method Claims: It might include claims for the use of the composition in treating particular diseases, possibly with detailed dosage forms or administration routes.
Scope of Claims
- Chemical Structure: The patent claims a specific chemical structure or a subclass, emphasizing structural features that confer therapeutic benefits.
- Method of Manufacture: Claims extend to processes for synthesizing the compounds, which could include novel synthetic pathways.
- Therapeutic Method: Specific claims may cover the use of the composition in inhibiting or modulating disease processes, targeting certain receptors or pathways.
- Formulation Claims: The inclusion of claims related to formulations, such as tablets, injections, or other delivery systems, enhances patent robustness.
Claims Limitations
- The scope is likely constrained by chemical variations and alternative forms, aiming to balance breadth and specificity.
- Limited claims may be present to target key novel features while avoiding prior art.
Claim Interpretation
- Broad Claims: Cover the core compound class or use, establishing fundamental rights.
- Narrower Claims: Focus on specific derivatives, formulations, or treatment methods, offering detailed protection.
Patent Landscape Context
Prior Art and Related Patents
- The patent exists within a dense landscape of pharmaceutical patents in South Korea and internationally.
- Similar patents may exist covering related compounds, mechanisms, or use cases, such as those by major pharmaceutical companies or academic institutions.
- The scope of KR101168620 potentially overlaps with patents filed in jurisdictions like the US (e.g., via PCT applications), China, or Japan, given the global nature of drug development.
Strategic Positioning
- The patent's date of issuance (2011) aligns with a period of active patent filings for novel kinase inhibitors, anti-cancer agents, or metabolic modulators.
- Its protection likely complements existing patents or fills a niche in a drug development pipeline.
Patent Term and Lifecycle
- Given South Korean patent law, the patent term generally lasts 20 years from the filing date (subject to maintenance and patent term adjustments).
- Expiration or licensing opportunities depend on the patent's remaining lifespan.
Patent Family and Related Applications
- It is advisable to review associated applications, such as family members filed in other jurisdictions, to understand global strategy.
- Patent prosecution history may reveal scope adjustments or amendments reflecting patent examiner feedback.
Implications for Stakeholders
For Innovators and Patent Holders
- The patent offers a firm foundation for exclusive rights; its claims need continuous monitoring against emerging prior art.
- Licensing opportunities may arise for products or methods within its claim scope.
For Competitors
- The scope of the claims determines freedom-to-operate assessments.
- Weak or narrow claims could open avenues for design-around strategies.
For Legal and Regulatory Stakeholders
- The patent's enforceability is critical for defending market share and asserting patent rights.
- Regulatory approval pathways may be influenced by patent status—especially for market exclusivity considerations.
Conclusion
KR101168620 exemplifies a targeted patent strategy centered on a specific therapeutic compound or method, with claims likely balancing broad applicability and detailed specificity. Its scope encompasses a combination of chemical, formulation, and therapeutic claims, strategically positioned within the competitive South Korean pharmaceutical landscape.
Continuous monitoring of its enforceability, claim scope, and related patents is essential for stakeholders to optimize IP management, licensing negotiations, and competitive positioning. The patent’s lifecycle and strategic value hinge on its claims breadth and alignment with ongoing innovation.
Key Takeaways
- Scope of KR101168620: Primarily covers novel chemical entities, formulations, and therapeutic methods with specific claims designed to protect its core innovation.
- Claims Strategy: Balances broad claims on chemical structures and specific claims on methods/formulations, ensuring comprehensive protection.
- Patent Landscape Position: Embedded in a dense filing environment, requiring continuous landscape monitoring for patent validity and potential infringement risks.
- Global Strategy: Correlates with international patent filings, implying potential patent family expansion.
- Business Value: Provides a robust IP foundation for development, licensing, and deterrence against patent challenges.
FAQs
Q1: How does KR101168620 compare to similar patents in the global market?
A: It likely shares structural similarities with international patents protecting similar compounds, but its claims are tailored to South Korean law and innovation specifics, requiring comparative analysis for global positioning.
Q2: Can the claims of KR101168620 be circumvented by designing around?
A: Yes. Often, competitors develop structurally related compounds or alternative methods that do not infringe on the specific claims, especially if claims are narrowly scoped.
Q3: What is the importance of analyzing related patent families?
A: Patent families reveal the geographic scope of protection, potential licensing opportunities, and strategic positioning across markets.
Q4: What are the key factors influencing the enforceability of KR101168620?
A: Proper maintenance, clarity of claim language, novelty, inventive step, and non-obviousness determine enforceability.
Q5: How can patent landscape analysis assist in drug development?
A: It identifies freedom-to-operate issues, potential licensing opportunities, and existing IP barriers, facilitating strategic R&D decisions.
Sources:
- [Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), Patent KR101168620 Public Document]
- [WIPO PatentScope Database]
- [Patent Landscape Reports on Pharmaceutical Patents]
