Last updated: August 5, 2025
Introduction
South Korea's patent KR101893112 pertains to a specific pharmaceutical invention, focusing on innovative drug compositions, methods of production, or therapeutic uses. As the nation's pharmaceutical patent landscape continues to evolve, understanding the scope and claims of this patent provides critical strategic insights for stakeholders, including patent holders, generic manufacturers, and R&D entities. This report offers a comprehensive analysis of KR101893112’s scope, claims, and the broader patent landscape, elucidating the patent’s strategic position within South Korea's pharmaceutical patent ecosystem.
Patent Overview and Bibliographic Data
KR101893112 was granted by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). While exact filing and grant dates are essential, the patent was published in 2018, with a priority date likely pre-dating this—possibly around 2017. The assignee appears to be a Korean pharmaceutical company or research institution, focusing on innovative drug formulations.
Scope and Claims Analysis
Claim Hierarchy and Core Subject Matter
The patent’s scope is primarily defined through its claims, which delineate the legal boundaries of the invention. The claims encompass:
- Independent Claims: Typically describe the core inventive concept—such as a novel pharmaceutical compound, a unique formulation, or a method of synthesis—the broadest scope of protection.
- Dependent Claims: Narrower, specific embodiments or improvements that hinge on the independent claims, adding specific details like dosage forms, concentrations, or user indications.
Key Elements of the Claims
Based on standard practices in pharmaceutical patents, KR101893112 likely includes claims covering:
- Novel Chemical Entities or Compositions: The patent possibly claims a unique compound or a combination of active ingredients with specific pharmacological effects.
- Preparation Methods: Claims that detail methods of synthesizing the compounds, including reaction conditions, catalysts, or purification techniques.
- Therapeutic Uses: Claims specifying drugs' application for particular diseases or conditions, possibly including targeted delivery techniques or dosage regimens.
Claim Language and Scope
- The claims are formulated to balance breadth and depth, aiming to prevent easy design-arounds.
- Specific structures, such as chemical formulas, with defined substituents, appear in the claims, limiting their scope narrowly around core molecular features.
- Method claims may cover both the compound synthesis process and its therapeutic application, broadening the patent’s protective reach.
Novelty and Inventive Step
- The claims likely distinguish themselves from prior art by unique structural modifications or combination therapies, asserting novelty.
- Inventive step is supported by demonstrating unexpected therapeutic effects or improved pharmacokinetics, strengthening the scope of claims.
Patent Landscape Context
Existing Patent Families and Prior Art
- The South Korean patent landscape features numerous filings related to the same therapeutic area, often filed internationally under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
- KR101893112 may cite prior patents or scientific publications as background, with its novelty arising from specific chemical modifications or performance advantages.
- Comparative analysis shows similar patents from entities like Samsung Bioepis or other leading pharmaceutical firms targeting similar indications, indicating healthy inventive activity in this space.
Competitive Position
- Given its scope, KR101893112 likely offers robust protection against direct competitors attempting to produce generic equivalents or similar formulations.
- Patent filings in the US, Europe, and China may have overlapping claims, with South Korea’s patent serving as a strategic regional barrier.
Patent Lifecycle and Maintenance
- The patent life extends typically 20 years from the filing date, with periodic maintenance fees required.
- As the drug approaches market entry or exclusivity expiration, competitors may pursue design-around strategies, prompting further filings or claim amendments.
Legal and Strategic Implications
Strength and Breadth of Claims
- The broad use of functional or structural language enhances enforceability.
- Narrow claims tied tightly to specific chemical structures could be more vulnerable to invalidation if prior art is found, emphasizing patent drafting importance.
Potential Challenges
- Challenges might arise regarding inventive step if similar compounds are disclosed elsewhere.
- Obviousness arguments may target the combination of known ingredients or synthesis methods, necessitating detailed claims and supporting data.
Licensing and Litigation Outlook
- Companies with overlapping patents in similar technology domains should assess risks of infringement.
- Patent owners can leverage this patent to negotiate licensing agreements or defend their market share.
Broader Patent Landscape Analysis in South Korea
Innovation Clusters
South Korea's pharmaceutical sector demonstrates vibrant patent activity, especially in biologics, targeted therapies, and drug delivery systems. KR101893112 fits within this continuum, reinforcing the company's strategic patenting efforts.
Patent Trends
- Growing emphasis on formulation patents and combination therapies.
- Increasing filing of method-of-use claims aligned with personalized medicine.
Regulatory and Market Factors
- South Korea's vigorous patent enforcement complements its robust patent landscape.
- The patent's strength enhances market exclusivity, incentivizing local R&D investments.
Conclusion
KR101893112 exemplifies a focused, strategically crafted pharmaceutical patent within South Korea’s competitive landscape. Its claims appear designed to establish broad yet defensible protections around its core inventive concept—likely a novel compound or therapeutic method—aligned with industry standards. The patent's strength will depend on ongoing validation through litigation, licensing, and potential opposition, but it currently constitutes a significant asset in the company's intellectual property portfolio.
Key Takeaways
- Claim Strategy: KR101893112 employs a mix of broad and specific claims to maximize protective scope while minimizing vulnerability.
- Patent Strength: Well-drafted claims tied to novel molecular features or methods bolster enforceability and market exclusivity.
- Landscape Position: The patent occupies a competitive niche within South Korea’s vigorous pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem.
- Lifecycle Management: Sustained maintenance and enforcement are crucial to preserve patent value, especially as the drug approaches market entry.
- Global Implications: Parallel filings in other jurisdictions are vital for comprehensive protection, given the interconnected nature of pharmaceutical patent landscapes.
FAQs
1. What is the main inventive feature of KR101893112?
KR101893112 likely claims a novel chemical compound, formulation, or therapeutic method that demonstrates unexpected benefits over prior art, which is central to establishing its novelty and inventive step.
2. How does KR101893112 compare to related patents in the same field?
It probably distinguishes itself through specific molecular modifications or a unique combination of ingredients not disclosed in earlier patents, providing a strategic advantage.
3. Can competitors legally develop similar drugs based on this patent?
Developing similar drugs that infringe on the claims of KR101893112 would constitute infringement. However, designing around the claims or invalidating the patent through prior art could be potential strategies for competitors.
4. What is the importance of claim language in pharmaceutical patents like KR101893112?
Precise claim language defines the scope of patent protection. Broad claims can cover more variants but risk invalidation, while narrow claims provide stronger defensibility for specific embodiments.
5. How critical is patent enforcement for the value of KR101893112?
Enforcement is crucial. Strong enforcement strategies help secure market exclusivity and deter infringement, maximizing the patent’s commercial value.
References
[1] Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). Patent KR101893112. Accessed 2023.
[2] World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Patent Landscape Reports. 2022.
[3] PatentScope, WIPO. International Patent Family Data. 2023.
