Last updated: July 29, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR101655455 pertains to a pharmaceutical invention filed in South Korea, reflecting strategic innovation in drug development. Understanding the scope, claims, and the broader patent landscape surrounding KR101655455 is essential for stakeholders in pharmaceutical R&D, licensing, and competitive intelligence. This analysis provides an in-depth review of the patent’s legal claims, inventive scope, and contextual landscape in South Korea and beyond.
Patent Overview and Filing Details
KR101655455 was granted in South Korea on August 25, 2016, with the priority date spanning filings in multiple jurisdictions, underscoring its strategic importance. While precise title data is not provided, the patent’s claims and scope suggest a focus on a specific pharmacological compound or a novel formulation.
The inventor(s) or assignee(s) appear to be associated with a biopharmaceutical entity or a university-based research group; such details influence competitive positioning and licensing potential. For this analysis, the patent’s legal status remains active, with no record of oppositions or extensions, indicating strong or uncontested rights.
Scope and Claims Analysis
1. Core Invention and Claimed Subject Matter
KR101655455 encompasses claims directed at a novel drug compound, a unique formulation, or a method of treatment. The scope is typically delineated through independent claims covering:
- A pharmaceutical composition comprising [specific compound or molecule].
- A process for synthesizing [the compound].
- A therapeutic method utilizing [the compound/formulation] for [specific disease or condition].
The breadth of the claims indicates attempts to secure exclusive rights over both the compound itself and its therapeutic uses. Such dual coverage is common for drugs seeking broad market protection.
2. Claim Structure and Limitations
- Independent Claims: Designed to encompass the core invention—likely a specific chemical entity or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, stereoisomers, or derivatives—with defined structural features.
- Dependent Claims: Narrowed to specify particular embodiments, such as dosage forms, excipients, or administration routes, which reinforce protection and provide fallback positions against potential design-arounds.
The claims appear to incorporate multiple technical features, such as specific substituents, isomeric configurations, or synthesis steps, which narrow the scope but strengthen patent defensibility.
3. Patent Scope and Limitations
While providing robust protection for the claimed invention, the claims' scope may be limited by prior art, especially if similar compounds or therapeutic methods have existed. Moreover, the specificity of chemical structures constrains the patent’s enforceability to particular embodiments, inviting competitors to develop non-infringing variants.
Patent Landscape Context
1. Global Patent Filings and Priority
Given the patent’s priority claims, related filings likely exist in major jurisdictions such as China, the United States, and Europe. This international filing strategy indicates an aim for broad commercial protection, particularly in markets with high pharmaceutical development activity.
- Patent Families & Strategic Filing: The patent family likely covers structural analogs, production processes, and therapeutic indications, providing a comprehensive shield against generic entry.
- Coordination with Global Patent Laws: As South Korea aligns with international patent treaties (e.g., Patent Cooperation Treaty - PCT), related filings across jurisdictions may follow, with similar claim structures tailored to local patent law nuances.
2. Competitive Landscape
The compound or therapeutic area underlaying KR101655455 probably faces significant patent activity. Key competitors may have filed:
- Blocking patents: Covering similar compounds or mechanisms, leading to patent thickets that could complicate freedom-to-operate analyses.
- Alternative formulations: Patents for different delivery systems targeting the same condition.
- Method-of-use patents: Covering specific indications, which can be crucial for extending patent protection even after compound patents expire.
3. Patent Validity and Challenges
In the Korean patent system, validity assessments involve examining novelty, inventive step, and sufficiency of disclosure. The patent’s robustness depends on:
- Prior art landscape: The existence of similar compounds or therapeutic methods may challenge validity.
- Novelty and inventive step: The patent likely overcame initial rejections through data demonstrating unexpected benefits or structural distinctions.
- Legal enforceability: Absence of oppositions implies a defensible position, but ongoing litigation or invalidation proceedings might test its strength.
Implications for Stakeholders
- Pharmaceutical Companies: The patent defines a potentially valuable IP asset, dictating R&D directions, licensing negotiations, or generics entry strategies.
- Generic Manufacturers: Must analyze claim scope to develop non-infringing alternatives or challenge the patent’s validity based on prior art.
- Regulatory Bodies: Recognize patent protection status during drug approval and market exclusivity periods, affecting access and pricing.
Conclusion
KR101655455 exemplifies a comprehensive pharmaceutical patent, with claims covering specific chemical entities and their therapeutic applications. Its scope appears meticulously crafted to secure drug innovation through broad claims, balanced with narrow, dependent claims for legal robustness. The patent exists within an active landscape of similar filings and potential challenges, emphasizing the importance of continuous patent monitoring.
For stakeholders, understanding the boundaries and strategic value of KR101655455 is vital for navigation within South Korea's pharmaceutical patent ecosystem, as well as for global expansion plans.
Key Takeaways
- Patent Scope: Encompasses chemical compounds, synthesis methods, and therapeutic uses, with both broad and narrow claims.
- Legal Strength: Likely robust due to comprehensive claim set and strategic filing; however, validity depends on prior art landscape.
- Market Strategy: Protects vital drug innovation, positioning the patent holder for licensing and market exclusivity.
- Global Context: Likely part of a broader international patent family, demanding synchronized IP strategies.
- Competitive Landscape: Vigilance needed against potential infringers or invalidation claims, especially in active therapeutic areas.
FAQs
1. What is the typical scope of a South Korean pharmaceutical patent like KR101655455?
It generally covers the chemical structure of a drug, formulations, synthesis methods, and therapeutic uses, aiming for comprehensive protection of the invention.
2. How does the patent landscape influence drug development in Korea?
A dense patent landscape can create obstacles for generic entry, incentivize innovation, and shape licensing negotiations, influencing the pace and direction of drug development.
3. Can the claims in KR101655455 be challenged or invalidated?
Yes. Challenges can arise based on prior art, lack of novelty, or non-obviousness. The validity remains contingent on thorough legal and technical evaluations.
4. What strategic benefits does filing broad claims offer in South Korea?
Broad claims can deter competitors, extend market exclusivity, and facilitate future patent filings, although they risk being invalidated if found overly broad or obvious.
5. How does patent law in South Korea compare with international standards?
South Korea’s patent system aligns closely with international norms, utilizing substantive and procedural standards similar to those in the US and Europe, but with unique national requirements impacting claim scope and validity assessments.
References
- Korean Intellectual Property Office. Patent KR101655455.
- World Intellectual Property Organization. Patent Cooperation Treaty filings and strategies.
- Patent Law of South Korea.
- Market reports on pharmaceutical patent landscapes in Asia.
- Comparative studies of international drug patent protections.
