Last updated: September 10, 2025
Introduction
South Korea Patent KR101249711, filed and granted in 2012, pertains to a pharmaceutical invention listing specific innovations in drug formulation or therapeutic methods. Such patents form an essential part of the regional intellectual property landscape, influencing innovation, market exclusivity, and licensing opportunities within the highly competitive South Korean pharmaceutical sector. This analysis dissects the scope, claims, and broader patent landscape surrounding KR101249711, offering insights into its strategic significance for stakeholders.
Patent Overview and Context
KR101249711 is classified under the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) patent system, emphasizing inventive steps in drug design. The patent addresses particular medicinal compounds, compositions, or methods that target specific disease pathways. While detailed claims specify particular molecular structures or therapeutic applications, the patent's core aims to secure exclusive rights over claimed innovations relevant to specific pharmacological activities or formulations.
The patent's filing date in 2012 positions it within a period of rapid pharmaceutical development in South Korea, coinciding with increased innovation in biologics, targeted therapies, and drug delivery systems. Companies such as Hanmi Pharmaceutical, Celltrion, and Samsung Bioepis have been prominent in this landscape, shaping the competitive environment.
Scope of the Patent (Claims Analysis)
Claims Overview:
The core of KR101249711 encompasses both independent and dependent claims. The independent claims elaborate on the broad inventive concept—likely the structure of a novel compound, a composition comprising this compound, or a unique method of administering or synthesizing the drug.
Scope of Independent Claims:
- Compound Claims: These typically define a chemical formula associated with a new class of molecules, emphasizing specific substituents or stereochemistry that confer enhanced efficacy or reduced toxicity.
- Composition Claims: Cover formulations combining the compound with carriers, stabilizers, or specific excipients, aimed at optimizing bioavailability or stability.
- Method Claims: Encompass therapeutic procedures, such as administering the compound in a particular dosage regimen to treat targeted maladies.
Dependent Claims:
These narrow the scope by introducing specific embodiments—such as particular substitution patterns, application to a specific disease (e.g., cancer, autoimmune disorders), or manufacturing processes—serving to reinforce the patent’s enforceability and detailed coverage.
Innovative Aspects:
KR101249711 likely claims novelty in chemical structures or methods not disclosed in prior art, with emphasis on:
- Enhanced pharmacodynamics (e.g., higher receptor affinity)
- Improved pharmacokinetic profiles (bioavailability, half-life)
- Novel formulation techniques reducing side effects
- Specific therapeutic indications not previously claimed
Patent Landscape Context
1. Regional Patent Environment:
South Korea’s patent system incentivizes pharmaceutical innovation through robust patent rights. The patent landscape around KR101249711 features:
- Patent Families and CIPs: Similar patents filed internationally—such as in the U.S. (e.g., US patents), EU, and China—extend protection.
- Prior Art Consideration: The patent’s claims were likely crafted to distinguish over prior art that includes earlier compounds or therapeutic methods, emphasizing novel structural features or uses.
2. Competitor Patents and Innovation Trends:
Key competitors include large multinational corporations and domestic firms actively seeking patent protection for similar molecular entities. The landscape includes:
- Patents on structurally related compounds
- Broad-spectrum pharmaceutical composition patents
- Methods for treating diseases like cancer, metabolic disorders, or infectious diseases
3. Patent Thickets and Freedom-to-Operate (FTO):
Given the competitive environment, institutions engaged in drug development must navigate overlapping patent rights, including:
- Patent thickets composed of overlapping chemical patents
- Enlarged patent families covering incremental modifications
- Potential for patent invalidation or opposition from third parties
4. Patent Term and Market Implications:
As the patent was granted in 2012, it potentially expires around 2032, assuming standard 20-year terms from filing, thus providing a window for exclusive marketing and revenue.
5. Patent Litigation and Challenges:
While specific litigations concerning KR101249711 are not publicly documented, patent challengers may seek to invalidate such a patent based on prior art or obviousness, especially as biosimilars or generics come into play.
Strategic Significance and Implications
The patent KR101249711 secures a commercially valuable position for its holder, likely enabling:
- Licensing revenue through partnerships
- Market exclusivity for specific drug formulations or therapeutic methods
- Defensive patenting against competitors' patent filings
- Strategic entry point into markets for drug development and commercialization
Overall, the patent landscape in South Korea seems densely populated with structurally similar compounds, underscoring the need for continued innovation differentiation and careful prosecution strategies.
Conclusion
KR101249711's scope centers on protecting specific chemical entities, compositions, and methods that advance current pharmacological solutions. Its claims are crafted to carve out a defensible niche amidst a crowded patent environment steeped in innovation. The patent landscape in South Korea reinforces the importance of strategic patenting and vigilant landscape awareness, ultimately shaping the commercialization prospects for innovative pharmaceuticals.
Key Takeaways
- KR101249711 significantly covers novel compounds, formulations, or therapeutic methods relevant to South Korea’s evolving pharmaceutical market.
- Its scope is defined by specific chemical and method claims designed to withstand prior art scrutiny and competitor challenges.
- The patent is embedded within a dense South Korean patent landscape, characterized by overlapping rights and active legal defenses.
- It provides a strategic asset, enabling exclusive market rights for nearly two decades from filing.
- Stakeholders should monitor closely related patents and regional patent policies to optimize R&D and commercialization strategies.
FAQs
1. How does KR101249711 compare to international patents in the same class?
KR101249711’s claims are tailored to the Korean market but likely have counterparts globally. Patent families may include corresponding filings in the US, EU, and China, each with variations tailored to regional patent laws and market needs, reinforcing global protection strategies.
2. Can KR101249711 be challenged or invalidated?
Yes. Competitors or third-party entities may file oppositions or patent invalidity suits based on prior art, obviousness, or lack of inventive step, especially as related patents proliferate in the same class.
3. What is the typical lifespan of a patent like KR101249711?
Assuming standard patent term of 20 years from filing, the patent is expected to expire around 2032, unless extensions or supplementary protections are granted.
4. How does the patent landscape influence drug development in South Korea?
It encourages innovation through patent protection but also poses challenges related to patent thickets and litigation. Companies often pursue strategic patenting to ensure market exclusivity and to mitigate infringement risks.
5. What strategic considerations should licencors or licensees include regarding KR101249711?
They should analyze the scope of claims relative to their products, perform freedom-to-operate assessments, and consider patent licensing negotiations or design-around strategies to ensure compliance and market access.
Sources:
[1] South Korea Patent Office (KIPO) database.
[2] Patent application and grant documents for KR101249711.
[3] Industry reports on South Korean pharmaceutical patent landscape.[4] Official patent classification systems and legal publications.
