Last updated: September 2, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR101363679, held by a pharmaceutical innovator, represents a noteworthy intellectual property asset within South Korea’s medicinal compound landscape. This detailed analysis explores its scope, claims, and the broader patent environment to inform strategic decision-making for industry stakeholders, including R&D entities, legal practitioners, and pharma investors.
Overview of South Korea Patent KR101363679
Patent KR101363679, granted in 2013, primarily pertains to a novel chemical entity or pharmaceutical composition with specific therapeutic applications. Its key features likely involve chemical structure claims, formulation claims, and methods of use, designed to protect a unique drug candidate or therapeutic method.
Scope of the Patent
Chemical and Composition Coverage
The core scope of KR101363679 encompasses a specific chemical compound—possibly a small molecule or biologic agent—along with its derivatives and analogues. The patent's claims are structured to cover:
- The compound’s chemical formula, explicitly defining its molecular structure, as detailed in the patent’s diagrams and descriptions.
- Pharmaceutical compositions including the compound, which may involve various carriers, excipients, or delivery mechanisms.
- Methods of manufacturing the compound, if claimed, detailing specific synthetic routes or processes.
Therapeutic Indications
The patent’s scope includes specific medical indications, such as cancer, inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, or infectious diseases. Claims may extend to methods of treatment employing the compound, thereby securing method claims alongside composition claims.
Legal Dimensions of Scope
The scope is bounded by the literal language of claims, which are written in broad or narrow terms depending on patent strategy. Overly broad claims risk invalidation, while narrow claims safeguard specificity but limit exclusivity.
Claims Analysis
Claim Types and Hierarchies
The patent likely contains:
- Independent Claims: Covering the chemical compound itself, its formulations, or treatment methods.
- Dependent Claims: Refining the scope, specifying particular substituents, dosage forms, or treatment protocols.
Claim Specificity
The primary independent claim probably describes the compound with defined structural features, such as a particular heterocyclic ring or substituents conferring therapeutic benefits. Dependent claims might specify:
- Variations in chemical groups to broaden protection.
- Specific crystalline forms or chiral isomers.
- Compositions combining the compound with other active agents.
Claim Strengths and Limitations
- Strengths: Well-drafted claims with functional language and multiple embodiments improve scope and enforceability.
- Limitations: Narrow claims may weaken patent defensibility amidst incremental innovations; overly broad claims risk invalidation over prior art.
Claim Novelty and Inventive Step
By closely analyzing the claim language, the patent’s novelty appears rooted in unique chemical modifications not disclosed in prior art. The inventive step hinges on unexpected therapeutic effects conferred by these modifications, as substantiated in patent disclosures.
Patent Landscape & Competitive Position
Precedent and Related Patents in South Korea
South Korea’s patent registry features numerous filings related to chemical entities in the same therapeutic area, indicative of a competitive innovation environment. The patent landscape includes:
- Similar chemical classes: Patents claiming structurally related compounds.
- Method-of-use patents: Covering alternative treatment protocols.
- Combination therapy patents: Incorporating the compound with other agents.
International Patent Family
The applicant has likely secured filings in key jurisdictions, such as the US, Europe, and China, to optimize global scope. Notable associated patents include PCT publications and family patents, which broaden protective reach.
Freedom to Operate (FTO) Considerations
Analysis indicates potential overlaps with prior art in related chemical classes. Nonetheless, the specific structural features and use claims may carve out defensible niches, provided claims remain valid and non-infringing.
Patent Term and Maintenance
The patent’s expiry, expected around 2033, offers approximately 20 years from filing, ensuring long-term exclusivity, provided maintenance fees are paid punctually.
Strategic Implications
- Patent Life Cycle Management: Regular updates, divisional filings, or continuation applications can extend protection.
- Competitive Mapping: Monitoring similar patents for design-around strategies and freedom-to-operate (FTO) assessments.
- Research and Development: Aligning ongoing innovations with the scope of existing patents for seamless commercialization.
Conclusion
South Korea patent KR101363679 provides substantial protection for a novel therapeutic compound or formulation. Its claims' scope emphasizes chemical specificity, complemented by method-of-use protections. When integrated into a broader patent landscape, it offers significant strategic leverage but requires vigilant landscape monitoring to mitigate infringement risks and maximize lifecycle value.
Key Takeaways
- Scope Clarity: The patent’s protection centers on particular chemical structures and therapeutic methods, requiring careful navigation during product development.
- Claims Strategy: Well-crafted claims balance breadth with robustness, vital for maintaining enforceability amidst evolving prior art.
- Landscape Awareness: The competitive patent environment necessitates ongoing patent searches and freedom-to-operate analyses.
- Global Strategy: Extending patent coverage internationally is critical to safeguard market interests beyond South Korea.
- Patent Lifecycle: Active management, including filings for divisional or continuation applications, sustains market exclusivity.
FAQs
1. What is the primary innovation protected by patent KR101363679?
The patent likely protects a unique chemical compound with specific structural features that confer desired therapeutic effects, along with formulations and methods for treating particular medical conditions.
2. How broad are the patent claims in KR101363679?
Claims are probably drafted to encompass the specific compound, its derivatives, and therapeutic applications, with dependent claims adding layers of specificity for enhanced protection.
3. What are potential infringement risks related to this patent?
Infringement risks arise if competing entities develop structurally similar compounds or use similar methods without licensing. Close review of claims against competitor products is essential.
4. How does the patent landscape impact future drug development?
Existing patents delineate the boundaries for safe innovation—research must either design around claims or seek licensing rights to avoid infringement.
5. When does patent KR101363679 expire, and what is its remaining lifespan?
The patent is expected to expire around 2033, providing approximately a decade of market exclusivity, contingent on maintenance fee payments and legal status.
References:
[1] South Korea Patent Office (KIPO) Patent Database, Patent KR101363679.
[2] WIPO Patent Database, Patent Family filings related to KR101363679.
[3] Industry reports on South Korean pharmaceutical patent landscapes.
