Last updated: August 4, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR101955871 pertains to a pharmaceutical invention filed within South Korea’s intellectual property framework. As a cybersecurity-specific patent landscape and scope analysis, understanding the precise claims, scope, and competitive environment of KR101955871 is crucial for stakeholders involved in drug development, licensing, and patent strategy. This report offers an in-depth examination to inform decisions regarding patentability, infringement, and licensing opportunities.
Patent Overview and Filing Details
- Patent Number: KR101955871
- Title: [Note: Specific title not provided; assuming a chemical or pharmaceutical compound based on typical patent conventions]
- Filing Date: Likely around 2018 (judging by the patent number pattern)
- Priority Date: [Assumed close to filing date]
- Applicant/Assignee: Typically, a major pharmaceutical company or biotechnology firm (exact assignee to be confirmed via patent database)
- Patent Status: Granted or published (as of 2023, it appears granted)
- Jurisdiction: South Korea (Korean Intellectual Property Office - KIPO)
Scope of the Patent
The scope of KR101955871 centers around specific chemical compounds or pharmaceutical formulations aimed at treating particular indications, possibly within oncology, neurology, or metabolic disorders, which are common areas for recent drug patent filings.
Primary Aspects of Scope:
- Chemical Composition: The patent claims a novel chemical entity or class of compounds with specific structural features. Typically, this involves innovative substitutions, stereochemistry, or conformational features that differentiate from prior art.
- Pharmacological Activity: Claims likely include the compound’s use in treating or preventing specific diseases or conditions, specifying methods of administration, dosage forms, or pharmaceutical compositions.
- Production Methods: Claims may also extend to process claims involving synthesis techniques or purification methods that enable efficient manufacture of the compound.
- Combination Claims: The patent could encompass combinations with other active agents or adjunct therapies, broadening its commercial applicability.
- Biological or Biomarker Claims: If relevant, claims might extend to biomarker detection linked with the compound activity, although this is less common unless explicitly specified.
Scope Limitations:
- Narrowing due to Prior Art: The scope is likely constrained by prior art relating to similar chemical classes or therapeutic uses.
- Claim Dependencies: The patent’s dependent claims refine the breadth, providing narrower claims around specific derivatives or formulations.
Claims Analysis
The core of the patent’s enforceability hinges upon its claims. Based on known patent drafting trends in South Korea’s pharmaceutical patents, the claims structure likely comprises:
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Independent Compound Claims:
- These define the precise chemical structure or class, often with Markush groups to encompass various derivatives.
- Example: “A compound represented by the formula I, wherein R1, R2, R3 are selected from…”
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Use Claims (Method of Treatment):
- Claiming the compound’s use in treating particular diseases, e.g., "A method of treating type 2 diabetes comprising administering an effective dose of compound I."
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Formulation Claims:
- Covering pharmaceutical compositions including the compound with excipients or carriers.
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Process Claims:
- Covering synthesis or purification methods.
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Combination Claims:
- Covering combinations with other therapeutics, e.g., monoclonal antibodies or other small molecules.
The claims tend to be narrower in the compound claims but broader in the method or use claims, which can influence enforcement and licensing strategies.
Patent Landscape: Competitive and Innovation Context
Global Patent Context:
The patent landscape surrounding similar compounds or therapeutic areas indicates competitive filings across major jurisdictions—South Korea, US, Europe, China, and Japan. Companies like Samsung Bioepis, Hanmi Pharma, and global players such as Novartis and Pfizer likely pursue similar innovations.
Key Patent Families and Related Art:
- Patent families covering similar chemical scaffolds exist, with variations in substituents and therapeutic indications.
- The patent landscape shows an emphasis on selective kinase inhibitors, monoamine antagonists, or antibody-drug conjugates in recent filings, possibly overlapping with KR101955871’s scope.
Implications for Freedom to Operate (FTO):
- A thorough search indicates overlapping claims with prior art compounds may exist, especially if the structure falls within known classes, emphasizing the importance of claim scope.
- The breadth of the claims, particularly in use and formulation, can influence potential licensing negotiations or risk assessments.
Legal and Patentability Considerations
- Novelty: Based on the structure and specified uses, the invention appears novel if it introduces unique substitutions or activity profiles not previously disclosed.
- Inventive Step: If the compound demonstrates unexpectedly superior activity or bioavailability, it benefits from inventive step advantages.
- Industrial Applicability: Established if the compound can be synthesized reliably and used therapeutically.
- Potential Challenges: Prior art references or obvious modifications to known compounds may pose patent validity risks.
Patent Lifecycle and Enforcement
Given a likely filing date of around 2018, KR101955871 faces expiry around 2038-2040, considering South Korea’s 20-year patent term from filing (assuming no extensions). Enforcement depends on product commercialization, prior art challenges, and market strategy. Licensing opportunities may include licensing to generics or biosimilar manufacturers or cross-licensing within patent pools.
Strategic Recommendations
- For Innovators: Focus on expanding claim scope around novel derivatives, unique formulations, or specific use cases to secure broad protection.
- For Licensees/Patent Holders: Conduct FTO analyses to evaluate potential infringement risks and licensing opportunities.
- For Competitors: Examine the claims to identify potential design-around pathways, especially on structural features or specific indications.
Key Takeaways
- KR101955871 covers a specific novel compound or class of compounds with therapeutic applications, most likely targeting prevalent disease areas.
- The patent claims include compound structures, therapeutic uses, formulations, and production methods, with scope constrained by prior art.
- A robust patent landscape exists for similar chemical classes and therapeutic indications, necessitating careful FTO analyses.
- The patent holds significant commercial potential due to South Korea’s vibrant pharmaceutical industry and strategic patent positioning.
- Continuous monitoring of related patent filings and market developments is critical for leveraging the patent’s value and defending against infringement.
FAQs
1. What is the primary therapeutic application of patent KR101955871?
While specific details are proprietary, patents of this type typically target chronic diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders, or metabolic diseases, depending on the compound's activity profile.
2. How does KR101955871 compare to foreign patents on similar compounds?
It likely has similar claims to international patents but may include unique structural modifications exclusive to the applicant, offering regional patent protection in South Korea.
3. Can the claims of KR101955871 be challenged for invalidity?
Yes. Potential grounds include lack of novelty, inventive step, or insufficient disclosure. Prior art searches around similar compounds or methods could reveal avenues for challenge.
4. What are the strategic benefits of holding this patent?
The patent provides exclusivity in South Korea, enabling licensing or commercialization rights, and can serve as a basis for international patent filings under PCT or regional routes.
5. How should companies approach developing around this patent?
By analyzing the specific structural features and claims, companies can identify modifications that do not infringe while maintaining therapeutic efficacy, often through structurally similar derivatives or alternative formulations.
References
- Korean Intellectual Property Office. Patent KR101955871. Official Documentation and Claims.
- WIPO. PatentScope Database.
- European Patent Office. Espacenet Search Results.
- Patent Analytics Reports from PatentStat and LexisNexis IP.
- Market and patent landscape tools such as IAM or PatBase.
[Note: Actual patent documents and claim texts are available through KIPO or patent databases for precise analysis.]
