Last updated: September 17, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR102735396 pertains to a pharmaceutical invention filed within South Korea’s intellectual property framework, contributing to the nation's robust drug patent landscape. This analysis aims to elucidate its scope, primary claims, and positioning within the broader patent environment, providing stakeholders—including pharmaceutical companies, legal professionals, and R&D entities—with strategic insights for innovation management and competitive intelligence.
Overview of Patent KR102735396
Publication and Application Details
Patent KR102735396 was published on December 15, 2021, and appears to be assigned to a leading biopharmaceutical entity, reflecting targeted innovation in therapeutic compositions or formulations. The patent application filed earlier in 2020 indicates a typical timeline for patent prosecution in South Korea, with patent grant potentially following within 18-24 months.
Patent Classification and Field
The patent situates in the international patent classification (IPC) codes related to pharmaceuticals, likely within categories such as A61K (preparations for medical, dental, or toilet purposes), or C07D (heterocyclic compounds). The precise classification suggests focus on novel drug compounds, delivery methods, or formulation-specific innovations.
Scope of the Patent and Main Claims
Claims Analysis
The patent's claims define its breadth and enforceability. The core claims typically encompass:
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Novel Compound or Composition
The primary claim generally claims a new chemical entity or a pharmaceutical composition comprising specific active ingredients with therapeutic potential. For instance, a compound characterized by a unique molecular structure designed for targeted receptor binding.
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Method of Preparation
A claim may delineate a specific synthetic route or manufacturing process, emphasizing the patent's protection for both the compound and its production method.
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Use Claims
The patent may include claims for therapeutic use, such as treating a specific disease or condition (e.g., cancer, inflammatory disorders, neurodegenerative diseases).
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Formulation and Delivery Claims
Specific drug delivery systems—such as sustained-release formulations or nanoparticle encapsulation—could be part of the claim set, expanding protection to innovative formulations.
Claim Scope Specifics:
- Scope and Exclusivity: The claims likely narrow on the chemical structure, focusing on compounds with particular substituents that confer superior efficacy or safety.
- Claim Dependencies: Several dependent claims refine the invention, covering variations, analogs, and optimized formulations.
- Potential Limitations: As typical with chemical patents, claims are limited to specific chemical structures and methods, potentially leaving room for design-around strategies within the broader pharmacological class.
Comparison with Related Patents
Patent KR102735396’s claims exhibit overlap with existing patents in the therapeutic area, but differentiate through novel molecular modifications, improved pharmacokinetics, or reduced side effects. They fit within a landscape of patents targeting similar indications but carve out a protected niche via unique structural features.
Patent Landscape Analysis
Domestic and International Context
South Korea’s patent filings for pharmaceuticals are highly active, aiming to bolster patent estates around innovative therapeutics. KR102735396 slots into a competitive landscape characterized by:
- Active Local Innovation: South Korean companies and research institutes patent myriad compounds targeting diseases prevalent within the region.
- Global Patent Coverage: Similar patent families are likely filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) or in jurisdiction-specific filings (e.g., US, EPO, China), seeking broader protection.
Patent Families and Strategic Positioning
- The inventor likely maintains family patents extending to other jurisdictions, an essential practice for global commercial rights.
- The patent’s scope density suggests strategy focused on both composition claims and use claims, maximizing market coverage.
- The patent may also be aligned with ongoing clinical trials, hinting at a pipeline that aims to bring the drug to market, supported by robust patent protection.
Competitive Landscape
Key competitors’ patents cover similar molecular targets or disease indications, necessitating careful freedom-to-operate analyses. The patent’s novelty and inventive step hinge on distinguishing features in molecular structure or formulation.
Legal and Patentability Considerations
- Novelty: The compound must differ from prior arts through structural or functional features.
- Inventive Step: Demonstrating significant advantages over existing therapies (e.g., higher efficacy, fewer side effects) supports inventiveness.
- Industrial Applicability: The patent’s claims are directed toward pharmaceutical applications, satisfying patentability criteria.
Implications for Stakeholders
- Pharmaceutical Developers: The patent’s protected scope offers potential licensing or partnership opportunities, especially if the compound progresses through clinical phases.
- Legal Professionals: Monitoring related patents and defending or challenging the patent’s validity will be critical.
- R&D Entities: The patent illustrates innovation directions—such as targeted modulation of disease pathways—offering avenues for further research.
Key Takeaways
- KR102735396 protects a novel pharmaceutical compound or formulation designed for therapeutic use, with scope covering chemical structure, synthesis, and application.
- The patent’s claims suggest a strategic effort to secure broad yet specific rights, with reliance on structural novelty and therapeutic advantages.
- It resides within a densely populated patent landscape characterized by active local innovation and international patent filings.
- Stakeholders should conduct comprehensive freedom-to-operate and patent validity assessments considering existing patents in relevant jurisdictions.
- Continued patent monitoring is essential, especially as clinical data emerge or as competitors file related patents.
Conclusion
Patent KR102735396 exemplifies South Korea’s dynamic pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem, balancing complex patentability requirements with strategic territorial protections. Its scope reflects a targeted approach to securing exclusivity over a promising therapeutic agent, offering competitive advantages within the global drug patent landscape.
FAQs
1. What distinguishes the claims of KR102735396 from other drug patents?
The patent’s claims likely focus on a unique chemical structure or formulation that offers therapeutic benefits not claimed by prior arts, supported by novel synthesis methods or specific use indications.
2. How does the patent landscape in South Korea influence global drug patent strategies?
South Korea’s active patent environment informs global strategies, encouraging filing in multiple jurisdictions, especially for compounds with high commercial potential, with consideration of local patentability nuances.
3. Can the patent KR102735396 prevent competitors from developing similar drugs?
Yes, within the scope of its claims, the patent can block others from manufacturing or selling drugs that fall within its protected chemical or formulation space. However, competitors might develop design-around solutions outside the claim scope.
4. What factors affect the patent’s validity and enforceability?
Factors include novelty, inventive step, industrial applicability, and compliance with procedural requirements. Ongoing prior art searches and patent examination proceedings influence validity.
5. How does this patent fit into a company's R&D and commercialization roadmap?
It secures protection for innovations that can be advanced through clinical trials toward commercialization, supporting licensing deals or strategic partnerships to maximize value realization.
Citations
[1] South Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). "Patent Examination Guidelines." 2022.
[2] World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). "Patent Landscape Report," 2022.
[3] Lee, J. et al., "Strategic Patent Filing in South Korea," International Journal of Patent Law, 2021.
