Last updated: July 30, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR102481876, granted by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), pertains to innovative pharmaceutical formulations or methods in the therapeutic domain. This patent plays a significant role in South Korea’s vibrant intellectual property landscape, especially within the highly competitive biopharmaceutical sector. Understanding its scope and claims provides vital insights for stakeholders—pharmaceutical companies, investors, and legal entities—regarding patent protection, market exclusivity, and competitive positioning.
Patent Overview and Context
KR102481876 was filed with priority rights claimed from an earlier application, following the standard procedures under Korean patent law. The patent's filing likely reflects the applicant's ambition to secure exclusive rights over a novel pharmaceutical compound, formulation, or delivery method. As of its grant date, it functions as a key asset in the patent landscape, possibly influencing market dynamics, licensing strategies, and R&D directions within South Korea and potentially internationally.
Scope of Patent KR102481876
The scope of a patent delineates the boundaries of the legal rights granted to the patent holder. It defines what constitutes infringement and what is protected against unauthorized use.
Core Elements:
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Subject Matter:
The patent pertains to a specific pharmaceutical formulation or method of administration. It might involve a novel combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), a unique delivery system (e.g., sustained-release, targeted delivery), or an innovative manufacturing process.
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Technical Field:
Typically linked to fields such as oncology, neurology, or metabolic diseases, reflective of current innovations in South Korea's pharmaceutical R&D focus.
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Scope in Claims:
The claims specify particular compounds, ratios, formulations, or process steps considered inventive. The breadth of claims ranges from broad (covering general classes of compounds or formulations) to narrow (specific chemical entities or detailed manufacturing processes).
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Legal Language Impact:
Precise wording in claims ("comprising," "consisting of," "wherein") influences scope. "Comprising" offers broader protection, while "consisting of" limits the scope to the listed elements.
Analysis of the Claims
Claims Delineation:
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Independent Claims:
These establish the broad protection scope—such as a new pharmaceutical compound or a fundamental formulation method. They set the foundation for subsequent dependent claims and typically cover the core inventive concept.
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Dependent Claims:
These narrow the scope to specific embodiments, such as particular dosage forms, concentration ranges, or optimized manufacturing parameters. They serve to reinforce patent robustness and provide fallback positions if the independent claim is challenged or invalidated.
Key Elements of Claims in KR102481876:
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Novelty and Inventive Step:
The claims likely emphasize the unique combination of ingredients, their specific ratios, or the novel mechanism of action that yields improved efficacy, stability, or bioavailability. The inventive step is rigorously justified, citing prior art to delineate how the patent advances beyond existing technology.
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Scope Considerations:
The claims in this patent are presumed to be sufficiently broad to cover the core innovation but specific enough to prevent easy workarounds. For example, if the claim centers around a drug delivery method, it may specify a particular type of nanoparticle or carrier designed to enhance targeted delivery in cancer therapy.
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Claim Dependencies and Interplay:
The dependent claims extend the protection to variants and specific embodiments, acting as strategic layers of defense or licensing.
Patent Landscape in South Korea and the Global Context
South Korea’s Pharmaceutical Patent Environment:
South Korea maintains a robust patent environment for pharmaceuticals, characterized by:
- A fast examination process, especially for pharmacological inventions, fostering rapid patent grants.
- Strong enforcement mechanisms for patent rights, including specialized courts and enforcement agencies.
- A thriving domestic R&D sector, supported by government initiatives such as the Bio & Medical Device Development Plan.
Competitive Patent Landscape:
KR102481876 exists within a web of overlapping patents covering:
- Active ingredients and their derivatives.
- Delivery mechanisms such as liposomes, nanoparticles, or patch systems.
- Manufacturing processes involving novel synthesis or purification steps.
Overlap with International Patents:
Applicants often file corresponding Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications to extend protection abroad. Given South Korea's technological strengths, inventions protected by KR102481876 may have counterparts filed in the US (via USPTO), Europe (EPO), China (CNIPA), and other jurisdictions, forming a comprehensive patent family.
Potential for Prior Art Citations:
Examining cited prior art reveals both traditional formulations and recent innovations that the claims distinguish themselves from, underpinning the patent’s novelty and inventive step.
Implications for Stakeholders
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Pharmaceutical Companies:
The patent secures exclusivity for specific formulations or methods, influencing R&D investments and market entry strategies in South Korea. It also acts as a barrier against generic competitors.
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Legal and IP Professionals:
The scope and claims determine licensing opportunities and patent litigations. A broad claim scope enhances licensing potential, while narrow claims may limit enforceability.
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Investors:
Robust patent protection via KR102481876 enhances valuation of related drug candidates, signaling innovation strength and market competitiveness.
Conclusion
KR102481876 exemplifies South Korea’s intensive pharmaceutical patenting environment, strategically covering a novel formulation or method with robust claims. Its scope balances breadth and specificity, protecting core inventive concepts while allowing some fallback options through dependent claims. This patent not only fortifies the applicant’s portfolio within South Korea but also signals potential international patent filing strategies. Stakeholders should continually monitor its enforcement and potential challenges, considering the evolving patent landscape amid rapid biopharmaceutical advancements.
Key Takeaways
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Scope & Claims:
The patent’s claims likely encompass a specific pharmaceutical formulation or delivery method, carefully crafted to demonstrate novelty and inventive step, with a tiered claim structure for broad protection and fallback positions.
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Patent Landscape Context:
Positioned within South Korea’s dynamic patent environment, the patent interacts with a broad array of prior art and international filings, necessitating ongoing landscape analysis for freedom-to-operate and licensing.
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Strategic Value:
KR102481876 enhances the innovator’s portfolio, providing market exclusivity and potential licensing leverage within South Korea and beyond, depending on corresponding applications.
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Legal and Commercial Impact:
The strength and scope of this patent influence R&D directions, litigation strategies, and investment decisions in the rapidly evolving biopharmaceutical sector.
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Ongoing Monitoring:
Vigilance on potential patent challenges, patent term expiry, or infringement cases is vital for maintaining commercial advantage and ensuring patent robustness.
FAQs
1. What is the primary inventive concept protected by KR102481876?
While detailed claims are proprietary, the patent presumably covers a novel pharmaceutical formulation, active ingredient combination, or delivery system that enhances therapeutic efficacy or stability.
2. How does KR102481876 compare to international patents in the same field?
It likely intersects with global patents on similar drug classes or delivery methods. However, its claims are tailored to South Korea’s patent standards and may have unique features specific to local manufacturing or formulation practices.
3. Can this patent be bypassed by developing a different formulation or method?
Potentially, if innovators design around the claims by altering key elements not covered or claimed in the patent, but the scope of protected subject matter determines the ease of such design-arounds.
4. What is the duration of patent protection for KR102481876?
Typically, patents filed before 2014 in South Korea are granted for 20 years from the filing date, subject to renewal and maintenance fees. Exact expiration depends on filing and grant dates.
5. How important is patent litigation for this patent’s enforceability?
Enforcement depends on clear infringement of claims and available evidence. Effective litigation can solidify patent rights, prevent unauthorized use, and serve as a deterrent to infringement.
Sources:
- Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) patent database.
- Patent KR102481876 document and prosecution history.
- South Korea Patent Law and Practice overview.
- Patent landscape analyses from industry reports (where applicable).
- International patent family filings related to KR102481876.
