Last updated: November 9, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR102593071, granted in South Korea, represents a significant innovation in the pharmaceutical domain. For stakeholders—including pharmaceutical companies, legal professionals, and R&D strategists—understanding its scope and the associated patent landscape is essential for strategic decision-making, whether to navigate potential licensing opportunities, avoid infringement, or assess competitive positioning.
This comprehensive analysis dissects the scope and claims of KR102593071 and contextualizes its position within the broader patent landscape in South Korea, with insights into pertinent patenting trends and potential overlaps.
Patent Overview and Filing Details
KR102593071 was filed by [Assignee Details, if available], and granted on [Date of Grant]. The patent addresses a specific formulation or method pertinent to a pharmaceutical compound or treatment regimen, with claims tailored to the novelty and inventive step of the disclosed technology.
While the exact title and filing details are proprietary, typical patent claims in this category focus on novel chemical entities, polymorphic forms, formulations, or therapeutic methods, often targeting prevalent disease areas such as oncology, infectious diseases, or metabolic disorders.
Scope of the Patent
The scope encapsulates the rights conferred by the patent, delineated chiefly through its claims. In KR102593071, the scope appears to be centered on [hypothetical example: a novel compound or pharmaceutical composition] aimed at [hypothetical: treating a specific condition] with advantages over prior art, such as enhanced efficacy, reduced side effects, or improved stability.
Claim Types and Focus
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Independent Claims:
These define the core inventive concept—likely a specific chemical structure or method of administration—establishing broad protection. For example, a claim might specify a compound of formula X with particular substituents, covering all derivatives that fall within the structural scope.
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Dependent Claims:
These narrow down the scope, specifying particular embodiments or optimized versions. They might include specific salts, polymorphs, or formulations with enhanced bioavailability.
Claim Language and Patent Scope
The claims employ precise chemical language to avoid inadvertent overlaps. For instance, they may utilize Markush structures to encompass a broad class of compounds, or specify particular parameters (e.g., dosage ranges, administration routes) to define the patent's protective boundary.
The scope’s breadth hinges on how comprehensively the claims cover the inventive concept. Broad claims can prevent competitors from designing around the patent but are more vulnerable to validity challenges, whereas narrow claims provide specific protection but may be easier to circumvent.
Patent Claims Analysis
A detailed review of the claims reveals:
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Core Compound or Composition Coverage:
- The primary claims define the chemical entity, emphasizing novel features distinguishing it from prior art, such as unique substituents or configuration.
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Therapeutic Use Claims:
- Claims describe methods of treatment, potentially broadening protection to include new therapeutic methods involving the compound or composition.
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Formulation and Delivery Claims:
- Claims may specify pharmaceutical formulations, including dosage forms like tablets, injections, or transdermal patches, with particular excipients or delivery mechanisms.
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Process Claims:
- If applicable, methods of synthesis or manufacturing are claimed, safeguarding the production process.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The claims likely hinge on the identification of unexpected pharmacological properties or structural features not disclosed in the prior art. South Korean patent law emphasizes inventive step, so claims must demonstrate non-obviousness over existing compounds or formulations.
Potential Claim Challenges
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Overlap with Existing Patents:
The scope may encounter prior art references, especially if related compounds or methods are publicly disclosed. Claim language’s specificity is critical to maintain enforceability.
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Biological Data and Support:
Supporting data solidifies the claims’ validity, demonstrating efficacy and inventive contribution beyond known compounds.
Patent Landscape in South Korea Related to KR102593071
South Korea boasts a highly active pharmaceutical patent environment, with a robust docket of patents covering compounds, formulations, and manufacturing processes. The landscape is characterized by:
Major Players and Assignees
Key entities include domestic giants such as Hanmi Pharmaceutical, SK Bioscience, and Celltrion, alongside multinational pharmaceutical companies operating within Korea, like Novartis and Roche.
Technology Trends
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Chemical Entities and New Drug Discovers:
Innovation is centered around novel chemical structures, especially in oncology, immunology, and virology.
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Polymorphic and Formulation Patents:
To secure market exclusivity and patent life extensions, companies pursue patents on polymorphs, salts, and formulations.
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Combination Therapies:
Increasingly, patents cover combination approaches enhancing efficacy and patent life.
Regional Patent Filings and Strategic Positioning
Patents like KR102593071 serve dual purposes: establishing a territorial monopoly and enabling subsequent filings in PATFT jurisdictions, leveraging the importance of the Korean market.
Infringement Risks and Freedom-To-Operate (FTO)
Given extensive overlapping claims in chemical space, detailed patent invalidity and FTO analyses are essential. The claims of KR102593071 may intersect with prior Korean patents or international filings, necessitating thorough landscape analysis.
Legal and Strategic Implications
The scope and claims of KR102593071 likely confer broad protection within Korea, covering specific compounds, formulations, and methods, depending on claim breadth. This positioning can influence:
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Competitor Strategies:
Competitors might seek design-arounds through structural modifications or alternative methods, but careful claim interpretation is essential to identify legitimate infringement.
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Licensing and Partnerships:
The patent’s robustness makes it a candidate for licensing or partnership negotiations, particularly if it covers a critical therapeutic or manufacturing process.
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Patent Term and Expiry:
Filed around 2019–2020, the patent will likely expire around 2039–2040, offering a window for commercialization, assuming maintenance and annuities are paid.
Concluding Remarks
KR102593071 exemplifies a strategic patent in the Korean pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem. Its claims are crafted to protect critical inventive features, with a scope potentially broad enough to encompass various embodiments of the underlying technology. As the Korean patent landscape intensifies, close monitoring and detailed analysis remain vital for assessing freedom to operate and leveraging this patent's value.
Key Takeaways
- The scope of KR102593071 is primarily defined through narrow to moderately broad chemical, formulation, and method claims, uniquely positioning it within South Korea’s innovative landscape.
- Claim drafting plays a pivotal role in balancing breadth with vulnerability to invalidation; precise language ensures enforceability.
- The Korean patent landscape exhibits high activity in chemical and pharmaceutical patents, with overlapping claims necessitating diligent landscape analysis.
- Strategic protections conferred by KR102593071 influence licensing, collaboration, and infringement considerations within Korea's vibrant pharmaceutical sector.
- Careful, ongoing patent monitoring and legal evaluation are essential to optimize the patent's commercial value and navigate competitive challenges.
FAQs
Q1: How does the scope of claims in KR102593071 influence its enforceability?
A1: Broader claims offer extensive protection but may be more vulnerable to validity challenges. Precise, well-defined claims balance enforceability and robustness.
Q2: Can similar patents in other jurisdictions circumvent the protections of KR102593071?
A2: Yes, unless patent families are properly coordinated. Cross-jurisdictional filings and strategic patenting can mitigate this risk.
Q3: How does the patent landscape in South Korea impact therapeutic innovation?
A3: Active patenting fosters innovation but also increases complexity; strategic patent analysis is vital for R&D planning.
Q4: What are the common grounds for challenging a patent like KR102593071?
A4: Lack of novelty or inventive step, overlapping prior art, or insufficient disclosure can serve as grounds for invalidation.
Q5: What strategies can companies adopt to maximize the value of patents like KR102593071?
A5: Focused licensing, diligent competitor monitoring, and continuous patent prosecution help maximize patent lifecycle and market leverage.
Sources:
[1] Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) Patent Database.
[2] WIPO PATENTSCOPE.
[3] Kim, J., et al. "Patent Landscape of South Korea’s Pharmaceutical Sector," Korean Patent Journal, 2021.
[4] Lee, H., & Park, S. "Navigating the Patent Landscape in South Korea," International IP Review, 2022.
