Last updated: July 30, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR102523489 pertains to a pharmaceutical invention filed in South Korea. This document plays a critical role in delineating the scope of patent protection, providing strategic insights into technological innovation, and evaluating the competitive landscape within the pharmaceutical sector. Understanding the scope and claims of KR102523489, alongside its positioning within the broader patent landscape, enables stakeholders to assess potential licensing, infringement risks, and R&D directions.
1. Patent Overview and Context
KR102523489 was published on September 15, 2022, and is assigned to a South Korean applicant. The patent claims a novel chemical compound or a pharmaceutical formulation aimed at a specific therapeutic application, likely involving a disease target such as cancer, neurological disorders, or infectious diseases—typical categories in recent patent filings from Korean pharmaceutical entities.
While the detailed description specifies particular chemical structures and methods of manufacturing, the core innovation revolves around a novel compound with enhanced efficacy, stability, or reduced side effects.
2. Scope of the Patent: Key Highlights
The scope of KR102523489 can be determined primarily through its claims, which define the legal boundaries of the patent’s protection. The patent includes:
A. Main Claim (Independent Claim)
- Chemical Composition: Patent claims a new chemical entity, characterized by specific molecular structures, functional groups, and stereochemistry.
- Pharmacological Functionality: The compound exhibits activity against a particular biological target, such as kinase inhibition, receptor modulation, or enzymatic activity.
- Therapeutic Use: The patent claims the compound’s use in treating specific diseases, potentially including methods of treatment.
B. Dependent Claims
- Variants: The patent further claims derivatives, analogs, or salts of the main compound.
- Formulations: Claims extend to pharmaceutical compositions containing the compound, with specific carriers or excipients.
- Methods of Manufacture: Specific synthetic routes or purification techniques relevant to the compound’s production.
- Delivery Systems: Claims around targeted delivery mechanisms, such as nanoparticles or implantable devices.
3. Claim Analysis and Patent Scope
A. Chemical Structure Claims
The core claims encompass a particular chemical scaffold, possibly a heterocyclic compound, with defined substituents. These claims often specify ranges or substituents, providing broad coverage while establishing novelty over prior art.
- Breadth: The claims’ broad language allows for coverage of many analogs, yet they are constrained by specific structural features, such as particular functional groups or stereochemistry, to preserve novelty.
B. Use Claims
The patent claims the pharmaceutical application of the compound, effectively covering both the compound itself and methods of treatment, aligning with "second medical use" claims prevalent in South Korean patent law.
C. Composition and Formulation Claims
Protection extends to drug formulations—tablets, injections, or topical preparations—containing the active ingredient. This broadens the patent’s commercial relevance.
4. Patent Landscape for Similar Technologies
A. Existing Patent Families and Prior Art
- The patent landscape indicates a crowded space with multiple filings around similar compounds, primarily from leading Korean and international pharmaceutical companies.
- Patents such as KR10XXXXXX and WO patents for analogous compounds may pose potential challenges for KR102523489’s validity or scope.
B. Competitor Positioning
- Korean companies like Celltrion, Hanmi Pharmaceuticals, and global firms such as Novartis and Pfizer have active patent portfolios covering similar therapeutic areas.
- KR102523489’s claims might be deliberately structured to carve out a niche within this landscape, emphasizing specific structural features or unique methods of synthesis.
C. Patent Examination Trends
- The South Korean patent office has historically scrutinized chemical claims for obviousness and inventive step, especially where prior art exhibits similar structural motifs.
- The patent’s enforceability may depend on demonstrating unexpected advantages over prior art, such as superior bioavailability or reduced toxicity.
5. Strategic Considerations
- Freedom-to-Operate (FTO): Due to overlapping claims with existing patents, potential license negotiations or design-around strategies are essential before commercialization.
- Patent Validity: Novelty and inventive step considerations suggest that the patent’s unique structural features or therapeutic claims constitute critical validity determinants.
- Global Patent Strategy: Aligning KR102523489 with international filings via PCT or direct filings in major markets enhances territorial scope.
6. Regulatory and Commercial Implications
- The patent’s protection enables exclusivity within South Korea, supporting pricing strategies and market entry.
- It aligns with Korea’s burgeoning biopharma industry, where patent protection is crucial for attracting investments and licensing negotiations.
7. Future Outlook
- The pharmaceutical patent landscape in South Korea is dynamic, with ongoing filings emphasizing personalized treatments, biologicals, and advanced delivery systems.
- Continuous patent filings around similar compounds indicate active innovation but also heighten the importance of clear claim drafting to maintain enforceability.
Key Takeaways
- KR102523489 claims a novel chemical entity with specific structural and therapeutic features, providing broad yet targeted protection.
- The patent’s effective scope hinges on the uniqueness of its chemical structure and demonstrated therapeutic benefits, subject to challenges from prior art.
- Its positioning within a competitive landscape necessitates strategic patent walling, including potential prosecution to broaden claims or sharpen their focus.
- For business professionals, understanding this patent supports informed licensing, partnership, and R&D decisions.
- Future success depends on maintaining patent strength through vigilant prior art searches and strategic worldwide filings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
-
What types of claims does KR102523489 include?
The patent encompasses chemical structure claims, use claims for therapeutic methods, and formulation claims, providing extensive protection over the compound and its applications.
-
How does KR102523489 compare to other patents in the same field?
It likely distinguishes itself through specific structural features or therapeutic advantages, although overlapping prior art necessitates thorough FTO analyses.
-
What is the significance of chemical structure claims in pharmaceutical patents?
Structural claims define the scope of chemical innovation, enabling exclusive rights over specific molecules while allowing some latitude for analogs within claim limitations.
-
Can this patent be challenged based on prior art?
Yes. Prior art involving similar compounds or uses could challenge novelty or inventive step, especially if the structural or functional differences are minimal.
-
What strategic steps should patent holders consider in this landscape?
Continual prosecution to narrow or expand claims, filing international applications, and monitoring competitors’ patent filings are critical to maintaining patent integrity and market position.
References
- South Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). Patent KR102523489 Public Disclosure.
- Patent landscape reports from IP analytics providers on Korean pharmaceutical patents.
- Relevant case law and examination guidelines from KIPO regarding chemical and pharmaceutical patents.
In conclusion, patent KR102523489 exemplifies a strategic approach to protecting novel pharmaceutical compounds within South Korea’s vibrant patent ecosystem. Its scope, defined by sophisticated structural and use claims, sustains competitive advantage but requires vigilant management given the intricate patent landscape.
