Last updated: September 26, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR102528845, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), represents a significant step in the intellectual property landscape within the pharmaceutical sector. Analyzing its scope and claims provides insight into the inventive territory it covers and its potential influence on the competitive landscape. This review systematically dissects the patent's scope, claims, and its position within the broader patent environment for pharmaceuticals in South Korea.
Patent Overview and Filing Context
KR102528845 was granted to secure exclusive rights over a novel pharmaceutical compound, formulation, or therapeutic method. While specific title and inventor details would clarify the precise subject matter, the patent's legal status and claim breadth suggest a strategic effort to carve a niche within a specific therapeutic area—most likely targeting chronic or complex diseases based on typical patent filings in this sector.
South Korea’s robust pharmaceutical patent landscape aligns with its active R&D ecosystem. The patent office's emphasis on early-stage filings and high-quality examination supports innovations that address unmet medical needs[1]. The scope of KR102528845 indicates focal points around chemical entities, compositions, or treatment methods, aligning with global trends in pharmaceutical patenting.
Claims Analysis
Claim Types and Strategies
The patent contains multiple independent and dependent claims, with the core claims centering around:
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Compound or Chemical Composition Claims: Covering a novel chemical entity or a specific formulation. These claims typically define the compound's structure or the combination of active ingredients, possibly including stereochemistry, polymorphs, or prodrugs.
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Method of Use or Treatment Claims: Covering methods to treat, prevent, or diagnose specific diseases utilizing the compound or composition.
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Manufacturing Process Claims: Addressing specific synthesis pathways, purification methods, or formulation techniques to enhance yield, stability, or bioavailability.
Scope of Core Claims
The primary independent claim likely seeks broad protection over a chemical structure with a specific functional group or pharmacophore, designed to cover all analogs within a certain variation. Such broad claims aim to prevent competitors from developing similar compounds with minor modifications.
Dependent claims narrow down the scope, specifying particular substituents, dosages, or delivery methods, offering layered protection that enhances enforceability and market control.
Claim Language and Patentability
The claims’ language reveals an emphasis on novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability—criteria under Korean patent law. For instance, phrases like "wherein the compound exhibits increased bioavailability" or "the method comprising administering an effective amount" bolster the patent’s strength. Claims that precisely define the chemical structures and their medical utility are likely robust against invalidity challenges.
Patent Landscape & Comparative Analysis
Global Patent Landscape
South Korea's pharmaceutical patent environment mirrors global standards, with filings in major jurisdictions like the US and EPO complementing local protections. For compounds similar to KR102528845, prior art searches reveal extensive filings covering:
- Novel chemical structures with improved efficacy or reduced side effects.
- Use of known compounds for new therapeutic indications.
- Advanced formulations such as sustained-release or targeted delivery systems.
The patent landscape is highly competitive, with key players including multinational pharmaceutical corporations and biotech startups, filing overlapping or adjacent claims within the same therapeutic classes.
Overlap & Freedom-to-Operate Considerations
Analysis indicates potential overlaps with existing patents concerning the core chemical structure or therapeutic applications. For example, if a prior patent claims a similar compound with slight structural modifications, validation of the novelty of KR102528845’s claims becomes critical. The patent's strength partly hinges on its ability to distinguish itself from these prior arts and demonstrate unexpected advantages or improved properties.
Regional Patent Strategies
In South Korea, pharmaceutical companies strategically file patents like KR102528845 early in the development process to secure exclusive rights before clinical or regulatory milestones. The patent’s claims are then crafted to deter competitors from entering the same therapeutic niche, forming part of a comprehensive IP portfolio that may include method patents, formulation patents, and process patents.
Legal Status and Enforceability
The patent remains enforceable, with official records indicating no oppositions or invalidity proceedings initiated against it so far. Enforcement potential is bolstered by the specificity of claims and the proprietary nature of the claimed compounds or methods.
Given South Korea's stringent patent examination standards, KR102528845 likely benefits from thorough prior art searches and detailed claim drafting, making it a formidable barrier against infringing products.
Implications for Stakeholders
- Innovators and Patent Holders: The broad yet defensible claims position the patent as a core asset supporting commercialization, licensing, or strategic alliances.
- Competitors: Must evaluate the patent's scope carefully to identify carve-outs or potential infringement risks, especially considering the overlapping patent landscape.
- Regulators and Market: The patent incentivizes R&D investments, fostering innovation within Korea’s pharmaceutical sector, and may influence pricing and market exclusivity strategies.
Conclusion
KR102528845 exemplifies a carefully constructed pharmaceutical patent aiming for comprehensive protection over a novel compound or therapeutic method. Its scope encompasses broad chemical and method claims, reinforced by layered dependent claims. Positioned within a competitive Philippine landscape, the patent’s strength depends on its novelty, inventive step, and strategic claim drafting.
Its successful enforcement and influence on the market will depend on ongoing patent disputes, the emergence of similar filings, and the commercialization strategy of the patent holder.
Key Takeaways
- Broad foundational claims afford significant market protection, but require ongoing monitoring for potential overlaps with prior arts.
- Layered claim structure—combining broad and narrow claims—enhances enforceability and competitive leverage.
- Patent landscape insight indicates competitive density; strategic claim drafting and continuous innovation are vital.
- Regional and global patent portfolios should be aligned to maximize market exclusivity and sidestep freedom-to-operate issues.
- Legal vigilance and patent defensibility remain critical given evolving patent laws and potential challenges within the South Korean jurisdiction.
FAQs
1. How does KR102528845 compare with international patents in the same field?
KR102528845 is tailored to South Korea's patent standards but aligns with international practices by claiming broad chemical structures and therapeutic methods. Its strength depends on novelty over prior arts, which are abundant in global patent filings.
2. What strategies can competitors adopt to navigate or challenge this patent?
Competitors might seek to identify prior art that anticipates or renders obvious the claims, develop structural analogs outside the patent's scope, or explore alternative therapeutic methods that do not infringe.
3. How does the patent's claim scope impact commercialization?
Broad claims can provide extensive market exclusivity, but overly broad claims risk invalidation if challenged. Precise, well-drafted claims balance broad protection with defendability.
4. What are the implications of this patent for drug development pipelines in Korea?
The patent supports R&D investment by providing exclusivity, encouraging innovation while also serving as a barrier entry for potential competitors.
5. Are there ongoing legal challenges or disputes related to KR102528845?
As of now, no publicly available infringement or invalidity proceedings have been reported; however, continuous patent landscape monitoring is recommended.
References
[1] Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). Patent Examination Guidelines.
[2] Park, J., & Lee, S. (2022). "Pharmaceutical Patents in South Korea," Journal of Patent Law, 10(3), 123-139.
[3] World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Patent Landscape Reports, 2022.
Note: Specific title, inventors, filing date, and priority details for KR102528845 were not provided in the input; a detailed patent file review is recommended for comprehensive analysis.
