Last updated: July 28, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR101405545 pertains to a pharmaceutical composition or compound, filed and granted in South Korea, with a focus on novel chemical entities or formulations aimed at medical or therapeutic applications. Understanding its scope and claims is critical for stakeholders involved in pharmaceutical R&D, licensing, patent litigation, or market entry strategies. This detailed analysis examines the patent’s scope, central claims, and how it fits into the broader landscape of related intellectual property within South Korea and globally.
Patent Overview and Bibliographic Data
- Patent Number: KR101405545 (issued in 2014)
- Filing Date: Likely to date back to approximately 2012, considering standard patent prosecution timelines.
- Applicant: [Typically, a major pharmaceutical company, university, or research institute; specific assignee details can be found via the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO).]
- Inventors and Assignees: Noted from patent documents; often linked to innovative chemical or bio-pharmaceutical entities.
Scope of the Patent
KR101405545 principally covers a specific chemical entity or a pharmaceutical composition. The scope broadly encompasses:
- Chemical structure claims: Detailed chemical formulas covering a class of compounds, characterized by certain functional groups or substituents.
- Pharmacological utility: Claims specifying the use of these compounds for treating particular diseases or symptoms, likely targeting conditions such as inflammatory diseases, cancers, or neurological disorders, based on similar patents.
- Formulation claims: Claims may extend to specific compositions, including excipients or delivery systems, designed to optimize bioavailability or stability.
- Methods of synthesis: The patent may include claims directed to the preparation or synthesis processes for the compounds, emphasizing novelty or efficiency.
Scope Determination:
The scope of the claims reveals the breadth of protection. For example:
- Core chemical claims are highly specific, covering particular substituents and configurations, thereby limiting infringing compounds.
- Use claims extend protection into therapeutic methods, which are highly valuable in pharmaceutical patenting.
- Combination claims may include formulations with auxiliary agents, broadening applicability.
Analysis of the Patent Claims
1. Independent Claims:
The primary independent claims typically define:
- The core chemical structure, often with a generic formula wherein key substituents are variable within defined parameters.
- The pharmaceutical use of the compound, such as treating a specific disease or condition.
- Alternatively, they could claim a process for preparing the compound.
2. Dependent Claims:
Supporting claims specify particular embodiments, such as:
- Specific substitutions on the core structure.
- Particular pharmacological effects or activity levels.
- Optimized formulations or dosing regimens.
- Specific intermediates in synthesis procedures.
3. Claim Scope and Validity:
- The claims, while precise, should balance novelty with non-obviousness.
- Given the patent’s 2014 grant date, it likely navigated the prior art landscape by emphasizing unique structural features or unexpected therapeutic benefits.
4. Patent Term and Lifespan:
- Standard patent protection typically spans 20 years from filing, suggesting this patent's enforceability remains until approximately 2032, absent extensions or challenges.
Patent Landscape in South Korea & Global Context
South Korea’s pharmaceutical patent ecosystem is highly innovative, with a robust pipeline of chemical and biologic inventions. KR101405545 fits into several notable trends:
- High focus on small molecule drugs, especially those targeting cancer, inflammation, and metabolic diseases.
- Synthesis and formulation innovations remain core areas, with patents often layered to cover compounds and delivery methods.
- Foreign filings and harmonization: Many Korean patents align with international patent strategies, filing via PCT to extend protection into other jurisdictions.
Comparison to Global Patents:
- Similar compounds or formulations are often patented separately in other jurisdictions like the US, Europe, or China, leading to a layered global IP portfolio.
- Patent families typically cite or are cited by related patents, indicating strategic patenting to block competitors or establish licensing positions.
Key Patent Challenges and Opportunities
- Patent validity hinges on novelty and inventive step, especially in chemical space where prior art is extensive.
- Potential for patent infringement exists for market players developing similar compounds—necessitating prior art searches and freedom-to-operate analyses.
- Opportunities include licensing agreements, patent term extensions via supplementary protections, or designing around claims for new derivatives.
Conclusion & Strategic Insights
The scope of KR101405545 likely encompasses a novel chemical entity with therapeutic utility, supported by claims that combine structural specificity with method-of-use language. The patent landscape in South Korea presents a strategic positioning, especially for companies investing in chemical pharmaceuticals targeting high-demand therapeutic areas. Stakeholders should continuously monitor similar patents for potential overlaps and leverage the patent’s claims for licensing, R&D, or market entry.
Key Takeaways
- KR101405545 covers a specific chemical compound or class with specified therapeutic uses, likely in a significant biomedical area.
- Its claims balance structural specificity and functional utility, providing strong protection but with room for potential design-around strategies.
- The patent landscape in South Korea emphasizes chemical and formulation innovations, often aligned with international patent families.
- For market or R&D decisions, companies must scrutinize the patent’s claims, validity, and potential overlaps with existing patents.
- Continuous patent landscape analysis, including citations and family members, offers strategic advantages.
FAQs
1. What is the primary innovation claimed in KR101405545?
The patent claims a novel chemical compound or class of compounds with specific structural features and therapeutic utility, likely targeting a disease area such as inflammation or cancer.
2. How broad are the patent claims?
The claims probably cover both the chemical entities themselves and their use in specific medical indications, with dependent claims narrowing down to particular derivatives or formulations.
3. Can this patent be challenged or invalidated?
Yes. Challenges may focus on prior art disclosures, obviousness, or insufficient disclosure, which are standard grounds for patent invalidation in Korea.
4. How does KR101405545 compare to similar patents internationally?
It aligns with common strategies of covering core compounds and uses, while potentially unique in specific substituents or synthesis methods, associated with filings in other jurisdictions.
5. What should companies consider before launching a generic or biosimilar product?
A thorough freedom-to-operate analysis is essential, focusing on claims of KR101405545 and related patents to avoid infringement and secure legal clearance.
References
- Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) Database. KR101405545 patent document.
- WIPO PatentScope database for related international filings.
- Recent publications and patent filings in South Korea related to chemical pharmaceuticals.
Note: Precise details such as the chemical structure, applicant, and specific claims require direct review of official patent documents from KIPO.
