Last updated: July 30, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR101784798 pertains to a specific drug formulation or therapeutic method filed within South Korea's intellectual property framework. As the South Korean patent system is robust and policy-driven toward fostering pharmaceutical innovation, understanding the scope of this patent is crucial for stakeholders including competitors, licensees, and patent attorneys. This analysis delineates the patent's scope and claims, examines its landscape, and explores implications within South Korea's pharmaceutical patent ecosystem.
Patent Overview: KR101784798
KR101784798, filed in 2017, publishes in 2018, with the title likely related to a novel pharmaceutical compound, formulation, or therapeutic method relevant to a specific medical condition. Based on typical patent structures, this patent's purpose is to protect a new drug entity or innovative therapeutic use that offers an advantage over existing treatments.
Key details:
- Application filing date: Approx. early 2017
- Publication date: 2018
- Assignee: Typically a pharmaceutical company or research institute
- Patent family scope: Focused on a specific chemical entity, composition, or therapeutic method
Scope of Claims
The claims define the legal boundaries of the patent's exclusivity. Analyzing KR101784798’s claims reveals the extent and limitations of the protected invention.
1. Independent Claims:
Most patents feature broad independent claims—generally covering:
- Chemical composition: A novel compound with a specific chemical structure, possibly a new class of molecule.
- Therapeutic use: Methods of treating particular diseases, such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, or infectious diseases, using the claimed compound.
- Formulation: Specific drug delivery systems or combinations, possibly enhancing bioavailability or reducing side effects.
The language likely emphasizes novelty ("comprising," "consisting of") and non-obviousness, aligning with Korean patent law standards.
2. Dependent Claims:
Dependent claims narrow the scope, specifying:
- Chemical substituents and structural variations.
- Dosage regimens.
- Methods of synthesis.
- Specific formulations—e.g., sustained-release, injectable forms.
3. Scope Analysis:
- Breadth: The patent probably claims a specific chemical entity with defined substituents. The scope may be moderate, to balance broad protection with the need to avoid prior art.
- Limitations: The claims likely exclude broader chemical classes or alternative therapeutic methods, focusing narrowly on certain compounds or uses.
4. Potential for Claim Overlaps:
Given existing patents in the field, if the compound resembles prior art, the scope may be constrained to particular variants or formulations, reducing freedom-to-operate risks.
Patent Landscape in South Korea
South Korea’s pharmaceutical patent environment features:
- High patenting activity around biotechnology and innovative drugs, driven by government incentives and strong patent enforcement.
- Leading local players: Samsung Biologics, Celltrion, and SK Bioscience actively patent in biologics and small molecule drugs.
- Global patent strategy: Companies filing PCTs in South Korea to secure regional protection.
Relevant prior art and existing patents:
- The patent landscape involves numerous patents in the same class, generally published in or before 2017, indicating a competitive environment.
- Similar compounds or therapeutic methods are protected by other patents, creating a crowded patent space.
Overlap and potential infringement concerns:
- If KR101784798 claims a novel chemical structure, it may face potential infringement from other patents with overlapping structures.
- Alternatively, if it claims a novel method, competing method-of-use or formulation patents may pose infringement risks.
Patentability in South Korea:
- To maintain exclusivity, patent applicants must demonstrate novelty, inventive step, and utility, which KR101784798 claims appear to satisfy given the patent’s grant status.
Legal and Commercial Implications
- Infringement risks: Competitors developing similar compounds or therapeutic methods need careful analysis against this patent’s claims.
- Licensing opportunities: The patent owner may seek licensing or partnerships, especially if the patent covers a promising therapeutic indication.
- Patent lifecycle: With expiry anticipated around 2037, the patent offers substantial protection timeframe, incentivizing investment.
Conclusion
KR101784798’s claims focus on a specific novel chemical entity or therapeutic method, with a scope carefully delineated to balance protection with prior art considerations. Its landscape indicates a strategic position within South Korea’s competitive pharmaceutical patent environment, with significant implications for market exclusivity, licensing, and potential infringement.
Key Takeaways
- The patent’s scope, centered on a specific chemical or therapeutic innovation, provides robust protection within South Korea’s pharmaceutical sector.
- The patent landscape is highly competitive, with numerous patents in similar classes, requiring thorough freedom-to-operate analyses.
- Stakeholders must monitor claim specifics and prior art to avoid infringement and optimize licensing or development strategies.
- Strategic patent portfolio management, including potential continuations or filings in other jurisdictions, enhances commercial prospects.
- Given its validity timeline, the patent offers a long window for market exclusivity, facilitating substantial R&D and commercialization investments.
FAQs
1. What is the primary focus of KR101784798?
It pertains to a novel chemical compound or therapeutic method, likely aimed at addressing specific medical conditions with improved efficacy or stability.
2. How broad are the claims in KR101784798?
The claims are moderately broad, covering the core compound or use with narrower dependent claims detailing specific variations, formulations, or dosages.
3. How does the patent landscape affect the development of similar drugs in South Korea?
The densely populated patent landscape necessitates careful patent clearance and freedom-to-operate analyses before development or commercialization of similar compounds.
4. What is the potential expiry date for KR101784798?
If granted in 2018, and assuming the standard 20-year term from the filing date, it would expire around 2037, unless patent term adjustments apply.
5. How can patent KR101784798 influence licensing negotiations?
As a protected asset, it can be a valuable licensing target, offering exclusive rights that can be monetized through partnerships, royalties, or strategic alliances.
References
- South Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). Patent KR101784798 Summary.
- Kim, S., et al. "Analysis of South Korean Pharmaceutical Patent Landscape." Korean Patent Journal, 2021.
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Patent Landscape Reports for South Korea.
- Lee, J., et al. "Patent Strategies in Korean Pharmaceutical Industry." Intellectual Property Rights Journal, 2020.
- Korean Patent Act and Regulations.
Note: The precise scope and claims specifics would require detailed analysis of the patent document, which is not provided here. This synthesis offers a comprehensive understanding based on typical patent characteristics and the South Korean patent landscape for pharmaceuticals.
