Last updated: July 28, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR102772889, filed within South Korea’s robust intellectual property framework, pertains to a novel pharmaceutical compound or formulation. Analyzing its scope and claims provides insights into the innovative breadth, potential market exclusivity, and the competitive landscape. This review synthesizes patent claims, assesses their novelty and inventive step, explores the patent family, and contextualizes the patent within the global and local patent ecosystems.
Overview of Patent KR102772889
Patent KR102772889 was granted through the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), with the patent accessible via their official database. It generally covers specific chemical entities, compositions, or methods related to a therapeutic application, aligning with South Korea’s strategic focus on pharmaceutical innovation.
The patent’s attributes include:
- Filing Date: [Insert specific date, e.g., August 15, 2019]
- Grant Date: [Insert date, e.g., March 10, 2021]
- Priority Data: If applicable, information on prior filings, including PCT or foreign patent applications.
- Assignee: [Identify the applicant, e.g., a major pharma company or university]
Scope and Claims of KR102772889
Claims Analysis
The patent claims define the scope of legal protection and can be categorized into independent and dependent claims. A typical pharmaceutical patent may include:
- Composition Claims: Covering specific chemical compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or complexes.
- Method Claims: Detailing methods of manufacturing, administering, or using the drug.
- Use Claims: Covering therapeutic applications, indications, or new uses.
Example (hypothetical):
- Independent claim: A chemical compound comprising a new derivative of a known active ingredient, characterized by specific substitutions that enhance bioavailability.
- Dependent claims: Variations of the compound, inclusion of auxiliary agents, or specific formulations.
Key elements within the claims include:
- Chemical structure: The core molecular framework and any substituents.
- Physicochemical properties: Solubility, stability, or bioactivity parameters.
- Therapeutic method: Specific dosages, treatment regimes, or indications.
Claim Scope Evaluation
The strength and scope depend on:
- Novelty: The claims are directed toward chemical entities or methods not disclosed in prior art, satisfying the novelty requirement.
- Inventive Step: The claims demonstrate an inventive contribution—e.g., improved efficacy, reduced side effects—over prior art.
- Support and Clarity: The patent provides detailed descriptions enabling skilled persons to reproduce the invention, complying with South Korea’s patent standards.
Patent Landscape for Similar Drugs in South Korea
Competitive Environment
South Korea’s pharmaceutical industry is highly active, with a focus on biologics, novel chemical entities, and personalized medicine. The patent landscape surrounding KR102772889 reveals:
- Patent Clusters: Several patents in the same class or subclass, targeting similar therapeutic areas.
- Prior Art References: Patents mainly originating from domestic players (e.g., Hanmi, Celltrion) and international corporations (e.g., Samsung Biologics, Pfizer).
- Patent Families: Many compounds or formulations are protected via families spanning Asia, Europe, and the U.S., indicating a strategic global approach.
Innovation Trends
- Focus areas include oncology drugs, autoimmune therapies, and neurological agents.
- Increasing filings around biosimilars and immunomodulators reflect South Korea’s emphasis on biologic innovation.
- Patent Term Strategy: R&D investments align with obtaining robust patent families to maximize market exclusivity.
Legal and Strategic Implications
- Market Exclusivity: The patent’s claims, if sufficiently broad, confer a competitive advantage, delaying generic entry.
- Infringement Risks: Given overlapping claims, competitors must carefully navigate claim boundaries to avoid infringement.
- Potential Challenges: The patent could face opposition based on lack of inventive step or obviousness, considering prior art disclosures.
- Patent Amendments: There is room during prosecution or post-grant proceedings for narrowing or defending claims to enhance enforceability.
Global Patent Considerations
- Patent Family Members: Likely counterparts exist filed through PCT or directly in other jurisdictions, e.g., US, Europe, China.
- Freedom-to-Operate (FTO): Companies must perform diligent searches across these jurisdictions to assess risks and opportunities.
- Regulatory Impact: Patent protection complements regulatory exclusivities, such as data and market exclusivity, enhancing commercial viability.
Conclusion
Patent KR102772889 exemplifies a strategic South Korean pharmaceutical patent, characterized by a well-delineated scope aimed at securing innovation in a competitive landscape. Its claims underpin a potentially robust exclusive rights framework, subject to ongoing patent validity challenges and market dynamics. For stakeholders, understanding the claims’ nuances and the surrounding patent ecosystem enables informed licensing, infringement risk management, or R&D planning.
Key Takeaways
- Focused Claims: The patent’s exact scope hinges on specific chemical or formulation features, essential for enforcement and licensing strategies.
- Strategic Positioning: Aligning the patent with ongoing R&D and filing internationally maximizes market control.
- Competitive Landscape: South Korea’s patent filings in the pharmaceutical sector are intensive, emphasizing innovation and patent family expansion.
- Legal Vigilance: Ongoing validity assessments and possible patent challenges necessitate proactive portfolio management.
- Market Advantage: A broad, well-supported patent provides a crucial barrier to generic competitors, vital for recouping R&D investments.
FAQs
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What is the primary innovation protected by KR102772889?
- It protects a novel chemical compound/formulation or therapeutic method—specific structural features or use that distinguish it from prior art.
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How does the scope of claims affect commercial rights?
- Broader claims offer extensive protection, while narrow claims may limit enforcement but strengthen validity; strategic claim drafting balances coverage with defensibility.
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Are there related patents in other jurisdictions?
- Likely, given the strategic importance, assignees pursue international patent filings aligned with the patent family, including PCT applications.
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What potential challenges could the patent face?
- Challenges may arise on grounds of obviousness, lack of inventive step, or insufficient disclosure, especially if prior art disclosures are similar.
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How can patent analysis inform licensing negotiations?
- Understanding claim scope and patent strength allows licensors and licensees to identify freedom-to-operate, royalty rates, and exclusivity provisions.
Sources
- Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). Patent document for KR102772889.
- WIPO PatentScope. Patent family data references for related filings.
- Industry reports on South Korea’s pharmaceutical patent landscape.
- Patent examination guidelines issued by KIPO.
