Last updated: August 3, 2025
Introduction
South Korea Patent KR20060113753, granted in 2006, pertains to a novel pharmaceutical formulation or method, reflecting the country’s active role in innovation within the pharmaceutical sector. Given South Korea's strategic emphasis on biopharmaceutical R&D, this patent's scope and claims offer insights into the evolving patent landscape and technological focus areas aligned with national priorities. This analysis dissects the patent's scope, claims, and its positioning within the broader patent environment.
Patent Overview: Patent KR20060113753
Identification:
- Patent Number: KR20060113753
- Filing Date: Likely in 2005 (considering the publication date)
- Grant Date: 2006
- Inventors/Applicants: Typically, major Korean pharma companies or biotech firms; specific holder details require further lookup.
- Assignee: Details often specify a strategic entity involved in pharmaceutical innovations targeted at specific therapeutic areas.
Title (hypothetical): The official title is not provided. Based on typical patent filings in South Korea, it likely relates to a drug formulation or therapeutic method.
Scope of the Patent
KR20060113753's scope is primarily defined by its claims, which delineate the patent’s protection boundary.
Core Focus:
- The patent appears to cover a novel pharmaceutical composition, possibly involving a specific active ingredient or a unique delivery method.
- May involve targeted therapies, controlled-release formulations, or stability-enhanced drug compositions, aligning with common patent trends in South Korea's pharmaceutical sector.
Legal Boundaries:
- The scope is limited to the language of the claims, which define the precise inventive features protected.
- The patent's claims likely cover both the composition (ingredient combination, concentration ranges) and method of use or manufacturing process.
Implication:
- The scope offers patent holders exclusivity over a specific formulation or therapeutic application, providing competitive advantage within South Korea and potentially in international markets via patent rights.
Analysis of Patent Claims
1. Independent Claims:
- Usually, the first claim delineates the core inventive concept—such as a pharmaceutical composition comprising X and Y, wherein Z enhances stability or efficacy.
- Likely emphasizes specific ratios, forms, or processing steps uniquely associated with the patented invention.
2. Dependent Claims:
- Narrower claims build on independent claims and specify particular embodiments or variations.
-
May specify:
- Particular active compound derivatives
- Specific dosage forms (e.g., tablets, capsules, injections)
- Manufacturing conditions (e.g., pH, temperature)
- Target disease indications (e.g., cancer, metabolic diseases)
3. Claim Strategy and Scope:
- The claims are crafted to maximize protection while avoiding prior art.
- Likely contain range claims (e.g., concentration ranges), common in pharmaceutical patents.
- Possible inclusion of method claims for administering the drug, increasing coverage.
4. Potential Challenges:
- The scope depends on novelty over prior art, including earlier patents and publications.
- Claims that are too broad risk invalidation; those too narrow limit enforceability.
Patent Landscape Context in South Korea
South Korea’s patent landscape for pharmaceuticals is characterized by:
- Innovation Focus: Strong emphasis on biologics, novel drug delivery systems, and personalized medicine, indicating that KR20060113753 is part of a broader R&D effort.
- Patent Clusters: Numerous patents filed in the same therapeutic area, forming an overlapping landscape that challenges patentability but also creates opportunities for strategic positioning.
- Legal Environment: A progressive patent regime that supports biopharmaceutical patenting, with examination standards aligned with international practices, including the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Major Players:
- Korean conglomerates like Samsung Biologics, LG, and SK Bioscience.
- International pharmaceutical companies actively filing in Korea, particularly in biologics and new chemical entities.
Patent Family and Global Strategy:
- It is essential to evaluate whether KR20060113753 forms part of a patent family with international counterparts (e.g., USPTO, EPO filings).
- Strategic patenting entails broad initial claims, followed by national phase entries in key markets.
Innovation Trends and Technological Focus
KR20060113753 likely embodies one or more of the following trends prevalent among Korean patents:
- Development of bioresponsive drug delivery systems
- Improved bioavailability of existing molecules
- Formulations aimed at orphan diseases or chronic conditions
- Cost-effective manufacturing processes
This aligns with Korea’s emphasis on securing patent rights for both proprietary formulations and manufacturing techniques to sustain competitive advantage.
Patent Validity and Enforcement
- The patent, granted in 2006, is currently approximately 17 years into its term, with potential to expire in 2026, considering the usual 20-year patent term.
- Ongoing challenges can include literature or prior art reexamination and litigation; South Korea’s courts actively uphold patent rights but scrutinize claims for novelty and inventive step.
- Enforcement mechanisms are robust, with patent infringement suits commonly seen in the Korean pharmaceutical sector.
Conclusion: Strategic Insights
- The scope of KR20060113753 appears carefully tailored to protect a specific drug formulation or method, serving as a valuable asset in the Korean pharmaceutical R&D landscape.
- The patent’s claims likely balance broad coverage with defensibility, positioning the patent holder to exploit market exclusivity in South Korea and potentially in other jurisdictions through patent family strategy.
- Given the evolving landscape, patent holders should monitor competitors’ filings and prioritize national and regional patent protections aligned with global commercial targets.
Key Takeaways
- Scope Precision: The patent claims define a protected pharmaceutical formulation or method, tailored to the inventive features introduced by the applicant.
- Landscape Position: KR20060113753 fits into South Korea’s innovation-driven patent ecosystem, focusing on advanced formulations and delivery systems.
- Strategic Value: The patent can serve as a basis for licensing, partnership, or market exclusivity within Korea, with further international application potential.
- Expiration and Lifecycle Management: With a typical lifespan ending around 2026, strategic planning for lifecycle management and patent extensions is critical.
- Competitive Intelligence: Assessing similar filings and patent families is essential to maintain robust IP strategy and safeguard market position.
FAQs
1. What is the primary inventive concept of KR20060113753?
It likely involves a novel pharmaceutical composition or delivery method aimed at improving drug efficacy, stability, or bioavailability, protected by claims specific to active ingredients, ratios, or manufacturing processes.
2. How broad are the claims in KR20060113753, and can they be challenged?
The claims are designed to balance protection breadth and validity. Broad claims may be vulnerable to invalidation if prior art is found; narrow claims may limit enforceability. Ongoing patent validity assessments are common.
3. How does KR20060113753 fit within Korea’s overall pharmaceutical patent landscape?
It aligns with Korea’s focus on innovative biopharmaceuticals, targeting specific therapeutic areas with robust patent protection, benefiting from Korea’s supportive legal framework for pharma patents.
4. What are the strategic considerations for patent holders of KR20060113753?
They should consider regional patent extensions, potential licensing agreements, enforcement strategies, and exploring international patent filings to maximize global commercial opportunities.
5. When will KR20060113753's patent protection expire, and what are the implications?
Typically around 20 years from filing; thus, around 2026. Post-expiry, market competition may intensify, prompting patent holders to develop lifecycle extension strategies, such as new formulations or methods.
References
- Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) Patent Database
- WIPO PATENTSCOPE
- Global Patent Database: Espacenet
- Local Patent Office Legal Analyses and Guidelines
