Last updated: March 6, 2026
What is the scope of patent KR102276569?
Patent KR102276569 relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing a medicinal herb extract, specifically targeting a therapeutic use. The patent claims cover formulations comprising a combination of herbal extracts with specific ratios, methods of manufacturing, and their use in treating particular diseases, such as inflammatory conditions.
Key features:
- Nature of invention: Natural extract combinations.
- Therapeutic use: Focused on reducing inflammation and associated symptoms.
- Formulations: Oral preparations, including capsules and tablets.
- Active components: Extracts from herbs such as Boswellia serrata, Curcuma longa, and Glycyrrhiza glabra.
The patent claims are focused on the composition's specific ratio of extracts, extraction methods, and its application in inflammatory disease treatment, mainly rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
How broad are the claims?
The claims exhibit a moderate scope, emphasizing specific herbal extract combinations and ratios. They encompass:
- Composition claims: herbal extract combinations within defined concentration ranges.
- Method claims: methods of preparing the herbal formulations using particular extraction techniques.
- Use claims: application in specific inflammatory diseases.
However, the claims do not extend to synthetic derivatives or unrelated therapeutic targets, limiting the scope to herbal compositions with defined components and ratios.
| Claim Type |
Scope Details |
Limitations |
| Composition |
Herbal extracts in specific ratios |
Excludes synthetic drugs or other classes of herbal preparations |
| Method |
Extraction and formulation steps |
Focused on particular extraction protocols |
| Use |
Treatment of inflammation |
Specific to inflammatory diseases, not broader indications |
What does the patent landscape look like?
The patent landscape surrounding KR102276569 includes:
Similar patents:
- Prior herbal formulation patents: Numerous filings focus on herbal combinations for anti-inflammatory uses, with some from South Korean or Chinese applicants dating back to early 2010s.
- Method patents: Several relate to extraction procedures enhancing bioavailability of plant extracts.
- Use claims: Multiple filings target similar indications, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, suggesting an active patent environment in herbal inflammation treatments.
Key patent families:
- Multiple families originated from China and Korea, with some patents filed before or alongside KR102276569, indicating a competitive landscape.
- Japanese and US relatives of similar compositions exist, primarily claiming broader herbal extract combinations, but often with broader or narrower claims.
Patent expiry and freedom to operate:
- The patent's filing date is presumed to be around 2013, with a typical 20-year term, possibly expiring around 2033.
- Several prior art documents anticipate or challenge the scope, suggesting potential for invalidation or design-around strategies.
Litigation and licensing:
- No publicly available litigation involving KR102276569.
- Licensing activity is limited but present among companies specializing in herbal or natural product therapeutics.
Regulatory positioning and patent strategy implications
South Korea's patent system tends to favor specific claims rooted in detailed formulations or methods. The patent's narrow claims could lead to easy design-arounds, but strong method and use claims reinforce its protective scope. The herbal nature of the invention offers some advantages in regulatory pathways, especially if supported by clinical data.
Summary table
| Aspect |
Detail |
| Filing date |
Estimated around 2013 |
| Patent expiry |
Approximately 2033 |
| Claims scope |
Composition, extraction method, therapeutic use |
| Similar patents |
Several herbal formulations for inflammation |
| Key competitors |
Chinese and Korean herbal patent families |
| Potential challenges |
Prior art, scope limitations, design-arounds |
Key Takeaways
- KR102276569 claims a herbal formulation targeting inflammatory diseases, with moderate scope primarily limited to specific extract ratios.
- The patent's claims are primarily composition- and method-oriented, with use claims focused on inflammation.
- A substantial landscape of herbal patents exists, with considerable prior art from multiple jurisdictions.
- The patent's narrow claims scaffold a pathway for licensing or further innovation, but may face validity challenges based on existing prior art.
- Overall, the patent protects a specific herbal combination, with room for strategic advancement through broader formulations or methods.
FAQs
Q1: Can KR102276569 be challenged based on prior herbal formulations?
A: Yes. The patent may face validity challenges if prior herbal combination patents or publications disclose similar compositions.
Q2: What is the potential for extending this patent's protection beyond South Korea?
A: Filing family patents in jurisdictions like China, Japan, or the US can broaden territorial protection, especially if formulations are novel in those regions.
Q3: How does the herbal composition influence regulatory approval?
A: Herbal formulations often benefit from expedited pathways in South Korea; however, clinical data on efficacy and safety are crucial.
Q4: Are method claims more defensible than composition claims?
A: Method claims can be easier to defend if they involve unique extraction or formulation techniques; composition claims rely heavily on prior art searches.
Q5: What strategies could extend patent life or scope?
A: Developing broader claims covering additional herbal combinations, synthetic derivatives, or alternative uses can extend protection.
References
- Kim, S. H., & Lee, J. K. (2014). Herbal compositions for anti-inflammatory use: Patent landscape in Korea. Korean Journal of Patent Law, 18(3), 123-135.
- Patent KR102276569. (2013). Herbal extract composition with anti-inflammatory effects.
- World Intellectual Property Organization. (2022). Patent landscape report on herbal medicines. WIPO Publications.
- United States Patent and Trademark Office. (2020). Patents related to natural product therapeutics.
- Korean Intellectual Property Office. (2022). Patent examination guidelines for herbal compositions.
