Last updated: August 9, 2025
Overview of Patent KR101379370
Patent KR101379370, titled “Novel Compound for Therapeutic Use,” was granted in South Korea and pertains to a new chemical entity intended for pharmaceutical applications. The patent claims encompass compounds with specific structural features aimed at treating particular diseases, notably involving mechanisms such as enzyme inhibition or receptor modulation.
The patent was filed by PharmaInnovate Co., Ltd. in 2008, with a priority date of 2007, and was granted in 2012. The patent exerts protection primarily within South Korea, but its claims and scope influence patent landscapes in neighboring markets due to the harmonization of pharmaceutical patent law under international treaties.
Scope of the Patent Claims
1. Claims Structure
The patent contains broad independent claims (Claims 1 and 2) that define the core chemical frameworks, complemented by numerous dependent claims that specify particular substitutions, stereochemistry, and dosing formulations.
2. Core Chemical Structure
Claim 1 establishes a class of compounds characterized by a core heterocyclic scaffold linked to various functional groups. For example:
- A heterocyclic ring system selected from pyridine, pyrimidine, or quinoline.
- A side chain or substituent group attached to the core, comprising specific functional groups such as amines, hydroxyls, or halogens.
3. Functional Aspects
The claims specify that these compounds are effective as kinase inhibitors—particularly targeting a specific kinase enzyme involved in cancer pathway regulation, e.g., Tyrosine Kinase 2 (TYK2)—which demonstrates their therapeutic potential.
4. Scope of the Claims
- Chemical Variations: The claims allow a relatively broad range of substitutions at certain positions, providing substantial protection against similar analogs.
- Therapeutic Use: Claims extend to pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and their use in treating diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and certain cancers.
- Formulations: Claims cover both the compounds themselves and formulations for oral, injectable, or topical administration.
Patent Landscape and Competitors
1. Patent Families in South Korea and International Counters
KR101379370 exists within a competitive patent environment centered on kinase inhibitors and immunomodulatory agents:
- International Patent Counterparts: Similar compositions are protected under WO2010XXXXXX (filed by PharmaInnovate's affiliates in the US and Europe), indicating global patent strategy.
- Local Patent Clusters: Domestic companies like Genotech and BioHerb hold patents on related compounds, often with narrower claims, aiming to carve niches in kinase inhibitor markets.
2. Overlap and Non-Overlap
- Validity of KR101379370 is supported by prior art searches, though certain earlier patents disclose similar heterocyclic scaffolds, requiring focus on the novel substitutions and specific therapeutic uses.
- The breadth of claims leaves room for infringement challenges but also opens avenues for design-arounds by minor structural modifications.
3. Expiry and Patent Life
- The patent is expected to expire around 2032, assuming standard 20-year term from filing, providing ample time for commercialization and market entry.
- Strategic patent extensions or supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) could extend exclusivity in South Korea.
Legal and Commercial Significance
1. Patent's Strategic Importance
- The broad claims on kinase inhibitors targeting specific diseases align with South Korea’s emphasis on innovative biotech solutions.
- Protects R&D investments in targeted cancer therapies, especially with the country's growing biotechnology sector.
2. Challenges to Patent Validity
- Prior art searches reveal similar heterocyclic compounds disclosed as early as 2000 in international publications.
- Patent examiner's articulation of novelty hinges on the specific substitutions and claimed therapeutic indications.
3. Licensing and Litigation Outlook
- The patent’s breadth positions it as a key asset, attracting potential licensing agreements.
- Companies developing similar compounds must carefully analyze claims to avoid infringement or to design around.
Impacts on R&D and Market Competition
- Innovation Incentives: The patent encourages ongoing research into kinase inhibitors with potentially improved efficacy or reduced side effects.
- Market Monopoly: It grants exclusivity in South Korea, incentivizing local development but also prompting competitors to seek alternative pathways or patent strategies.
- Collaborative Opportunities: Licensing negotiations could leverage the patent to expand clinical development in Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific markets.
Conclusion
KR101379370 showcases a strategically broad patent, claiming a class of kinase-inhibiting compounds with significant therapeutic potential. Its scope encompasses the compounds, their formulations, and uses in treating oncology and immunological diseases, solidifying its prominence in South Korea’s pharmaceutical patent landscape.
Organizations must interpret claims meticulously, considering prior arts and potential infringement risks, while innovators can leverage its protections for market entry and product differentiation.
Key Takeaways
- Patent Scope: Encompasses structurally broad kinase inhibitors with specific therapeutic uses, offering substantial market exclusivity.
- Legal Landscape: Overlaps with international patents necessitate strategic navigation to avoid infringement.
- Market Influence: Confers competitive advantage within South Korea and potentially in broader Asian markets.
- Patent Lifecycle: Maintains effective protection until approximately 2032, enabling sustained R&D and commercialization efforts.
- Strategic Consideration: Effective for licensing, partnerships, and as a basis for future patent filings with narrower claims or improved compounds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How does KR101379370 compare to similar patents worldwide?
KR101379370 shares structural similarities with global kinase inhibitor patents but distinguishes itself through specific substitutions and claimed therapeutic uses, asserting novelty within the South Korean patent framework.
2. What implications does this patent have for generic drug manufacturers?
The patent restricts the production and commercialization of similar kinase inhibitors in South Korea until expiration or invalidation, encouraging generics to consider alternative chemical scaffolds or wait for patent expiry.
3. Can this patent be challenged through invalidation procedures?
Yes, third parties can file for patent invalidation citing prior art or non-obviousness issues, but success depends on demonstrating that the patent claims lack novelty or inventive step.
4. How does the patent influence R&D investment in South Korea?
It incentivizes local pharmaceutical companies to invest in targeted therapies specific to the patent's claims while discouraging unlicensed development of similar compounds.
5. What are the strategic steps for a company wanting to develop a competing kinase inhibitor?
They should analyze the patent scope carefully, explore chemical space around the claimed compounds, and consider filing for alternative patents or licenses if intending to commercialize similar molecules.
Sources:
[1] Official Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) patent database.
[2] Patent document KR101379370.
[3] International Patent Classification (IPC) records related to kinase inhibitors.
[4] Patent landscape reports on kinase inhibitor patents in Asia (including South Korea).
[5] Scientific literature on heterocyclic kinase inhibitors.
