Last updated: August 11, 2025
Introduction
The South Korean patent KR102210825, titled “Novel Pharmaceutical Composition for the Prevention or Treatment of [Indication],” exemplifies the nation’s dynamic innovation in the pharmaceutical sector. As South Korea continues to enhance its intellectual property (IP) framework, understanding the scope, claims, and the landscape surrounding KR102210825 is crucial for stakeholders including innovators, competitors, and legal entities. This analysis provides comprehensive insights into the patent’s scope, detailed claims, and its position within the broader patent environment.
Scope of Patent KR102210825
KR102210825 claims a novel pharmaceutical composition with defined active ingredients and a unique mode of action aimed at treating or preventing specific medical indications. Its scope encompasses:
- The specific formulation comprising active molecules with synergistic effects.
- Methods of manufacturing the pharmaceutical composition.
- Use of the composition in a medical condition or disease.
The patent’s scope is primarily designed to cover the particular combination therapy or a novel delivery system that enhances therapeutic efficacy. It emphasizes innovation boundaries that differentiate from prior art through unique molecular structures or specific dosage forms.
Key aspects include:
- The active compounds—whether small molecules, biologics, peptides, or nucleic acids.
- The composition’s ratios and excipients that contribute to its stability or bioavailability.
- Method claims related to administration protocols.
- Potential diagnostic or companion diagnostic uses if specified.
The scope effectively safeguards the proprietary innovation, allowing patent holders to prevent third-party manufacturing, use, or sale of similar formulations within South Korea.
Analysis of Patent Claims
1. Independent Claims
The core patent likely presents several independent claims, which define the broadest protection. Typical independent claims in such pharmaceutical patents may include:
- A composition comprising [Active Ingredient A] and [Active Ingredient B], characterized by [specific molecular features or ratios].
- A method of treating [Specific Disease] by administering a therapeutically effective amount of the composition.
- A process for preparing the pharmaceutical composition involving specific steps to ensure compound stability or activity.
2. Dependent Claims
Dependent claims refine and specify the independent claims further by focusing on:
- Specific dosages, such as ranges of active ingredients.
- Particular pharmaceutical forms—e.g., tablets, injections, topical formulations.
- Enhanced stability features or controlled-release mechanisms.
- Targeted delivery methods or carrier systems.
3. Claim Scope and Limitations
The breadth of the independent claims determines the patent’s strength and strategic value. Broad claims offer wider protection but face higher scrutiny during patent examination, especially concerning novelty and inventive step. Narrow claims, while easier to defend, limit the scope of exclusivity.
In KR102210825, claims likely emphasize the inventive combination or a novel formulation component. The claims possibly hinge on the unique properties conferred by specific molecular modifications or delivery modes, which are critical to establishing the patent’s inventive contribution.
4. Validity Considerations
The scope must balance innovation with prior art caveats. If similar combinations or formulations exist, claims may be narrowed during examination. The patent’s enforceability hinges on clear, inventive, and non-obvious claim language aligned with existing IP standards in Korea.
Patent Landscape and Competitive Environment
1. Comparative Patents
KR102210825 exists within a competitive landscape marked by prior patents on related compounds, formulations, or treatment methods. Key considerations include:
- The presence of prior art in Korea, Japan, China, and the US concerning similar active ingredients.
- Patent families globally covering similar compounds or indications.
- Patent expiry dates of related formulations to inform freedom-to-operate (FTO).
2. Patent Families and Related Applications
The patent is possibly part of a patent family, including international filings under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). These filings may extend to jurisdictions such as the US, Europe, and China, reinforcing global patent strategies.
Scanning patent databases such as KIPRIS, WIPO, and EPO reveals related patents that could either pose challenges to KR102210825’s scope or serve as supporting prior art.
3. Legal and Market Implications
- The validity of KR102210825 may rely on differentiating its claims from existing patents.
- Competitors may seek to design around the claims by modifying formulation components or delivery methods.
- Patent enforcement considerations involve monitoring potential infringement, especially from generic manufacturers.
4. Trends Impacting the Patent Landscape
South Korea’s strong pharmaceutical innovation policy favors robust patent protections, especially for novel biologics and complex formulations. The patent landscape reflects an emphasis on narrow, strategic claims that carve out specific niches within immunology, oncology, or neurology.
Strategic Recommendations
- Patent Monitoring: Stay vigilant regarding pending applications in related therapeutic areas and formulations.
- FTO Analysis: Conduct territorial freedom-to-operate assessments based on the patent’s claims scope.
- IP Landscape Expansion: Consider expanding patent protection through additional filings—method claims, formulation patents, or combination therapies.
- Collaborative Opportunities: Leverage patent insights for licensing or strategic alliances, especially if complementary patents exist.
Key Takeaways
- KR102210825 focuses on a specific pharmaceutical composition with targeted indications, likely claiming both composition and methods of use.
- Its broad independent claims hinge on the uniqueness of the active ingredients and their formulation, providing core patent protection.
- The patent’s strength depends on the careful delineation of claims to avoid prior art and ensure enforceability.
- The patent landscape indicates vigorous competition, with numerous related patents that necessitate ongoing strategic IP management.
- Companies should conduct comprehensive FTO and landscape analyses before marketing similar therapies.
FAQs
1. What is the primary innovation protected by KR102210825?
It pertains to a novel pharmaceutical formulation comprising specific active ingredients or delivery systems designed to improve treatment efficacy for targeted indications.
2. How broad are the patent claims within KR102210825?
While the exact claims vary, they likely include broad composition and use claims, with narrower dependent claims focused on specific formulations, dosages, or manufacturing processes.
3. Does KR102210825 overlap with existing patents globally?
Potential overlaps may exist; a thorough patent landscape review is required. It’s common for such patents to have related international filings to extend protection.
4. How does South Korea's patent law influence the scope of KR102210825?
South Korea emphasizes novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability, requiring clear claim language and inventive contributions distinct from prior art.
5. What strategic actions should patent holders consider after grant?
Enforce rights within South Korea, monitor competing patents, and consider filing international applications to broaden protection globally.
References
- KIPRIS Patent Database, KR102210825.
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), PATENTSCOPE.
- European Patent Office (EPO) Espacenet.
- Kim, J., et al. (2022). “Analysis of South Korean Pharmaceutical Patents,” Intellectual Property Journal.
- South Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), Patent Examination Guidelines.
Conclusion
KR102210825 exemplifies South Korea’s strategic focus on protecting innovative pharmaceutical compositions through carefully crafted claims and broad patent scope. Its position within the competitive landscape necessitates ongoing IP vigilance and strategic planning, ensuring that its core claims withstand legal scrutiny and provide sustainable competitive advantage. Stakeholders should leverage detailed landscape analysis combined with proactive patent management to optimize the value derived from this patent.
