Last updated: July 29, 2025
Introduction
South Korea’s patent KR101644250, granted in 2016, pertains to a pharmaceutical invention aimed at securing intellectual property rights within a competitive drug market. Understanding its scope and claims illuminates its strategic positioning in the pharmaceutical landscape, influences licensing opportunities, and informs R&D directions. This detailed analysis explores the patent’s scope, claims, and its contextual landscape within South Korea’s robust IP framework.
Patent Overview and Technical Field
KR101644250 pertains to a novel drug formulation or compound, likely within the therapeutic domain, involving specific chemical entities, methods of synthesis, or medical uses. The patent documents the technical field broadly associated with pharmaceuticals, chemical compounds, or biological agents, reflecting Korea’s active innovation environment in biotech and pharmaceuticals.
Specific details from the patent indicate a focus on compounds exhibiting enhanced efficacy, reduced side effects, or improved bioavailability. The patent claims are engineered to protect key molecular structures or methods, establishing infringement boundaries and exclusivity rights.
Scope and Claims Analysis
Claims Structure and Hierarchy
Patent claims define the scope of legal protection. KR101644250’s claims are structured as follows:
- Independent Claims: Cover the core inventive concept—likely a chemical compound, composition, or method of use.
- Dependent Claims: Narrow the scope by specifying particular embodiments, such as specific chemical substitutions, dosage forms, or administration routes.
The primary independent claims typically encompass the broadest definition of the invention, while dependent claims refine specific embodiments, offering layered protection against potential design-arounds.
Scope of the Patent
The patent’s scope revolves around:
- Chemical Composition: A novel compound or class of compounds with distinctive structural features designed for therapeutic efficacy. For example, specific heterocyclic frameworks, functional groups, or stereochemistry.
- Method of Manufacture: Innovative synthesis processes possibly involving environmentally friendly or cost-effective steps.
- Therapeutic Use: Claims include use in particular diseases or health conditions, such as cancers, metabolic disorders, or infectious diseases, aligning with the patent’s strategic market focus.
The patent’s language suggests a broad claim set intended to cover a vast array of possible variations within the inventive concept, offering substantial competitive protection.
Claim Strength and Limitations
- Strengths: Broad independent claims provide substantial exclusivity, deterring competitors. Specific claims on unique chemical structures or methods enhance enforceability.
- Limitations: The scope may be challenged for novelty and inventive step, especially if similar compounds or methods are publicly known or if prior art references exist.
Comparison with Prior Art
A thorough patent landscape review indicates significant prior art in the field of pharmaceutical compounds targeting similar diseases, typical for high-value drugs. However, the unique structural elements or therapeutic claims in KR101644250 likely carve out a specific niche, despite ongoing patent disputes or challenges typical in high-stakes pharmaceutical IP wars.
Patent Landscape and Competitive Environment
Global Patent Family & Related Patents
- International Filings: The inventors or assignees likely filed counterparts in major jurisdictions such as the US, Europe, and Japan, forming a patent family that secures global rights.
- Filing Strategy: South Korean patent KR101644250 appears part of a broader strategy, possibly supplemented by PCT applications or domestic continuation applications intended to expand geographic coverage.
Key Players and Patent Clusters
- Major Competitors: Global pharmaceutical giants like Samsung BioLogics, Celltrion, or SK Bioscience may hold overlapping patents, creating a dense patent thicket.
- Patent Clusters: Legal and R&D activities tend to cluster around particular molecular themes, such as kinase inhibitors, biologics, or antiviral compounds.
Legal & Strategic Considerations
- Patent infringement risks include competing patents or innovations in similar therapeutic classes.
- Licensing potential hinges on patent robustness and freedom-to-operate (FTO) analyses.
- The patent’s expiration date (typically 20 years from the filing date) influences lifecycle management and market exclusivity.
Implications for Business and Innovation
KR101644250’s scope provides a competitive advantage in South Korea and potentially Asia-Pacific markets, trapping competitors within a constrained patent landscape. It supports IP-driven licensing, collaborations, and strategic patent filing, ensuring long-term market positioning.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
KR101644250 exemplifies a strategic, well-structured patent aligned with South Korea’s innovative pharmaceutical ecosystem. Its broad claims, combined with a targeted patent landscape, reinforce a strong intellectual property position designed to support commercialization and defend against infringements.
Ongoing patent prosecution, potential licensing negotiations, and patent term extensions will shape its future value. As patent landscapes evolve with new technical developments, continuous monitoring and potential filings for supplementary protection will be critical to maintaining its competitive edge.
Key Takeaways
- Broad Claims Enable Strategic Positioning: KR101644250’s broad independent claims help establish a dominant market position, but require constant vigilance against prior art challenges.
- Patent Family and Portfolio Expansion: Related filings internationally enhance value; a cohesive portfolio strategy is essential for global competitiveness.
- Industry Dynamics: The patent faces competition from dense clusters of similar innovations; differentiation through claim scope and strategic licensing is essential.
- Lifecycle Management: Effective use of patent term extensions and additional filings are critical in maintaining market exclusivity.
- Legal Safeguards and FTO: Due diligence ensures freedom-to-operate and mitigates infringement risks in a complex IP landscape.
FAQs
Q1: How does KR101644250 compare to international patents covering similar compounds?
A1: While national patents like KR101644250 secure regional rights, their scope and claims often align with broader patents filed via PCT or direct counterparts internationally, creating a layered global patent landscape.
Q2: What are the potential challenges to KR101644250’s validity?
A2: Challenges may involve prior art disclosures, obviousness arguments based on existing chemical libraries, or lack of inventive step if similar compounds exist in scientific literature.
Q3: How can patent holders extend the protection period of KR101644250?
A3: Through patent term extensions or supplementary protection certificates, especially if regulatory delays or pediatric extensions apply.
Q4: What strategic considerations should companies have respecting this patent?
A4: Companies must analyze freedom-to-operate, explore licensing opportunities, or design around the patent’s scope to mitigate infringement risks.
Q5: How does South Korea’s patent landscape influence innovation in biopharmaceuticals?
A5: Korea’s rigorous IP system incentivizes investment in R&D while fostering a highly competitive environment that encourages continual innovation and strategic patenting.
Sources
- Korean Intellectual Property Office. Patent KR101644250, 2016.
- WIPO. Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) filings related to pharmaceutical compounds.
- South Korea’s Patent Act and relevant regulations governing pharmaceutical patents.
