Last updated: August 5, 2025
Overview of Patent KR101632851
Patent KR101632851, filed in South Korea, pertains to a pharmaceutical compound or drug formulation. The patent was granted by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) and signifies proprietary rights over specific chemical entities, therapeutic methods, or formulations. While the precise details depend on public disclosures, patents generally revolve around novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability, especially within the highly competitive pharmaceutical landscape.
Scope of Patent KR101632851
The scope of a pharmaceutical patent defines the boundaries of protection concerning compounds, methods, and formulations. For KR101632851, this scope likely encompasses one or more of the following:
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Chemical Compound Claims: The patent may detail novel chemical entities, including specific molecular structures or derivatives with therapeutic activity.
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Method of Use: Claims could specify particular medical indications or treatment methods using the claimed compounds, such as treatment of neurological diseases, cancers, or metabolic disorders.
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Formulation and Manufacturing: The patent might cover specific pharmaceutical compositions, stable formulations, or manufacturing processes enhancing bioavailability, stability, or delivery.
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Combination Claims: The patent could include claims involving the combination of the claimed compound with other active ingredients for synergistic effects.
The scope's breadth is crucial; narrowly drafted claims risk circumvention, while broad claims can face validity challenges if unsupported by data or prior art.
Claims Analysis
The core of patent protection lies in its claims, which specify the legal boundaries. While detailed claim language for KR101632851 is proprietary, typical claims in such patents include:
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Compound Claims:
Covering the chemical entity with structural formulas, such as novel heterocyclic compounds, specific stereochemistry, or functional groups conferring pharmacological activity.
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Method Claims:
Protecting specific methods of synthesizing the compound or employing it to treat particular diseases.
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Use Claims:
Covering the compound's application for treating identified diseases, potentially expanding to secondary indications if supported.
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Formulation Claims:
Protecting pharmaceutical compositions, including excipients, delivery mechanisms, or controlled-release formulations.
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Process Claims:
Covering manufacturing processes that improve yield, purity, or efficiency in producing the compound.
Claim strategy:
Effective patents balance broad claims for market protection with narrower, well-supported claims to withstand legal challenges and prior art scrutiny.
Legal and Technical Strength of Claims
The pharmacological novelty and inventive step are critical for validity. Key considerations include:
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Novelty:
The claimed compound or method must differ significantly from prior art, including existing patents and scientific literature, such as PubMed or patent databases.
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Inventive Step:
The patent must demonstrate that the invention is non-obvious to those skilled in the art. This often involves highlighting unexpected properties, improved efficacy, or manufacturing advantages.
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Utility:
The patent must show practical applicability, typically evidenced through pharmacological data or experimental results.
Possible challenges include prior art that discloses similar compounds or methods, which could narrow the patent's scope or lead to invalidation.
Patent Landscape Analysis in South Korea
The patent landscape provides a broader view of mapable intellectual property rights related to the compound or therapeutic area:
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Major Patent Holders:
Global pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, or university research institutes frequently hold patents in similar domains. For example, South Korean firms like Samsung BioLogics or LG Chem could have related patents.
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Competitor Patents:
Similar compounds with therapeutic activity are likely covered by a cluster of patents, creating potential freedom-to-operate (FTO) issues.
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Patent Families:
The patent likely belongs to a broader patent family, including applications and granted patents in jurisdictions such as the US, Europe, and China, indicating the strategic global filing approach.
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Expiration and Patent Term:
Utility patents generally expire 20 years from the filing date, emphasizing the importance of patent filing timing for market exclusivity.
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Patent Citations:
An analysis of citing patents indicates technological evolution, while citations by early-stage patents suggest foundational innovation.
Innovation Position and Protection Strategy
Given the competitive pharmaceutical landscape in South Korea and globally, the following strategic considerations apply:
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Strong Claims:
To ensure robust protection, the patent should encompass both broad chemical compound claims and specific use or method claims supported by experimental data.
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Patent Term Extensions:
For drugs with lengthy R&D cycles, supplementary protections like patent term extensions or supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) may be pursued.
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Diversification within Patent Family:
Filing for different polymorphs, formulations, or methods increases patent stakeholdings and barriers to generic entry.
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Freedom to Operate (FTO):
A comprehensive FTO analysis confirms the patent's claim scope doesn't infringe existing rights, facilitating commercialization.
Implications for Market and Development
The patent KR101632851 potentially covers an innovative therapeutic compound or formulation, supporting exclusive market rights in South Korea. It may serve as a foundation for further patent filings, clinical development, and licensing agreements. Its strength and scope greatly influence commercial viability, partnering opportunities, and strategic innovation.
Key Takeaways
- Patent KR101632851 likely claims specific chemical entities or formulations critical for therapeutic application in South Korea.
- Adequate scope and well-supported claims are vital to withstand legal challenges and protect market share.
- Positioning within the patent landscape requires awareness of competing patents and prior arts to ensure robust freedom to operate.
- Global patent family strategy enhances market exclusivity and mitigates risks associated with patent erosion.
- Continuous monitoring of patent status, claims validity, and technological advancements informs strategic R&D and commercialization.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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What is the primary therapeutic area covered by patent KR101632851?
The specific therapeutic indication depends on the detailed patent description; it likely targets a disease where the chemical compound demonstrates efficacy, such as oncology, neurology, or metabolic disorders.
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How does KR101632851 impact competitors in South Korea?
It establishes exclusive rights over the claimed compounds or methods, potentially restricting competitors from commercializing similar drugs without licensing or designing around the patent.
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Can the patent claims be challenged or invalidated in South Korea?
Yes. Challenges can be filed based on prior art, lack of inventive step, or insufficient disclosure within the patent lifecycle, typically through oppositions or litigation.
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What strategies can patentees employ to broaden protection scope?
Filing additional patent applications covering derivatives, polymorphs, formulations, and related methods strengthens overall intellectual property.
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How does the patent landscape influence R&D investment?
A dense patent landscape can deter innovation due to infringement risks but also highlights opportunities for licensing, collaborations, or creating around existing patents.
References
- Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO): Official patent database and detailed patent documentation.
- WIPO PatentScope: For international family and priority applications.
- Patent analytics tools (e.g., Innography, Derwent Innovation): For landscape and citational analysis.
- Scientific literature and prior art disclosures: For assessing novelty and inventive step.
- Regulatory filings and clinical trial registries: For understanding patent application alignment with development stages.
Note: Precise claims and scope details require direct analysis of the patent document. This summary provides an overarching expert perspective based on typical patent strategies and landscape insights pertinent to South Korean pharmaceutical patents.
