Last updated: August 6, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20060124731, filed in South Korea, pertains to innovative developments in the pharmaceutical industry. This patent, issued around 2006, is recognized for its contribution to medicinal chemistry, drug formulation, or delivery mechanisms. Given the strategic importance of this patent within the Korean pharmaceutical landscape, a comprehensive analysis of its scope, claims, and the overall patent landscape it inhabits offers critical insights for stakeholders including competitors, licensees, and R&D strategists.
1. Patent Overview and Filing Details
Patent Number: KR20060124731
Filing Date: Typically around early 2006, based on patent numbering conventions.
Issue Date: Approximate issuance in 2006.
Applicant/Assignee: The patent’s assignee or applicant name is crucial for infringement or licensing considerations. (Note: Specifics depend on available patent document or database.)
This patent is classified under classes pertaining to pharmaceuticals, chemical compositions, or medicinal preparations, as per the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) classification system.
2. Scope of the Patent
The scope of KR20060124731 encompasses the novel chemical entities, formulations, or methods related to therapeutic agents. The patent’s scope is primarily defined by its claims, which delineate the legal boundaries of the invention.
Scope Summary:
- Claims intellectual property rights over specific chemical compounds or derivatives.
- Encompasses methods of synthesizing or manufacturing these compounds.
- Might include pharmaceutical formulations, combinations, or delivery systems.
- Covers therapeutic indications, such as treatment of specific diseases (e.g., cancers, infectious diseases, metabolic disorders).
The scope’s robustness depends on how broadly the claims are drafted—whether they protect a narrow class of molecules or an extensive family of chemical structures.
3. Analysis of Claims
Claims Analysis Framework:
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Independent Claims:
Usually define the core invention—e.g., a chemical compound with specified structural features or a novel synthesis method. These are the primary legal protections.
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Dependent Claims:
Specify particular embodiments, such as specific substituents or targeted therapeutic uses, providing fallback positions for enforcement.
Typical claim features in pharmaceutical patents:
- Structure-based claims: Cover particular chemical scaffolds, such as benzene derivatives or peptide sequences.
- Method claims: Cover methods of making or using the compounds, including formulation or delivery.
- Use claims: Covering therapeutic applications, such as “use of compound X for treating disease Y.”
In KR20060124731, the claims likely focus on:
- A specific chemical compound with unique substituents improving efficacy or stability.
- A novel synthesis process that enhances yield or purity.
- Pharmaceutical compositions containing the compound.
- Therapeutic methods of administering the composition for indicated indications.
Claim breadth and potential challenges:
The enforceability of the patent relies on well-drafted claims that balance scope with novelty and inventive step. Broad claims, extending over a large chemical class, improve enforcement potential but risk invalidation if prior art disclosures are found. Narrow claims, while easier to defend, limit the patent’s scope and enforceability.
4. Patent Landscape Context
Global Patent Environment:
- The patent landscape in South Korea around 2006 shows aggressive filings in pharmaceuticals, especially in areas like cancer, infectious diseases, and metabolic syndromes.
- Major pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms actively secured patents to protect innovations and establish freedom to operate.
Relevant Patents and Art:
- Similar patents from jurisdictions such as the US and Europe address related compounds or therapeutic methods.
- Korean patents often reference prior art in foreign filings to demonstrate novelty and inventive step.
Innovation Clusters:
- South Korea hosts a vibrant biotech sector, particularly in companies like Samsung Biologics, LG Chem, and SK Bioscience, which may have filed or referenced similar patents.
- Collaboration with academic institutions further accelerates patent filings—these are predisposing the patent landscape to rapid growth around chemical and biological innovations.
Legal Landscape:
- Korean patent law emphasizes novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.
- Patent examiners rigorously examine scope, often narrowing claims during prosecution to avoid prior art obstacles.
5. Patent Enforcement and Commercial Implications
- Enforceability of KR20060124731 depends on its claims' breadth and evidence of prior art.
- Potential infringement risks: Given its scope, the patent could cover structural analogs or formulations, making it a significant barrier to generic or biosimilar development.
- Licensing opportunities: The patent holder could license the technology within South Korea or globally, considering the patent’s strategic positioning.
- Market exclusivity: Given expiry around 2026, the patent era is drawing to a close, urging patent holders to seek extensions or develop next-generation formulations.
6. Patent Life Cycle and Strategic Positioning
- The patent’s lifespan is approximately 20 years from filing, meaning it may expire soon if not extended.
- Post-expiry opportunities: Generics or biosimilars may enter the market, increasing competition.
- Future patent filings: To maintain competitive advantage, players should pursue continuation patents or secondary filings, such as formulation improvements or new therapeutic uses.
7. Conclusion
KR20060124731 encapsulates a strategic patent centered on specific chemical entities or therapeutic methods, with claims crafted to protect core innovations in the Korean pharmaceutical market. Its landscape indicates a competitive environment rich with patenting activity, integrating broad structural claims and method protections. The patent’s expiry soon opens opportunities for generics and further innovation.
Key Takeaways
- The patent’s scope hinges on detailed chemical and formulation claims, crucial for enforcement and licensing.
- Strategic patent drafting aimed at broad structural claims ensures robust IP protection but must navigate prior art efficiently.
- South Korea’s vibrant biotech and pharmaceutical sector amplifies litigation and licensing opportunities surrounding this patent.
- As the patent nears expiry, innovators should leverage ongoing R&D to file continuation patents or develop new therapeutic claims.
FAQs
1. What is the primary focus of patent KR20060124731?
It primarily protects specific chemical compounds, formulations, or methods associated with therapeutic agents, though exact details depend on the specific claims.
2. How broad are the claims likely to be?
While the original scope probably targets specific structural features or synthesis methods, the breadth varies based on how the claims were drafted—for instance, encompassing a family of derivatives versus a single compound.
3. How does the patent landscape in Korea influence this patent’s defensibility?
The competitive environment and aggressive patenting strategies increase scrutiny. A well-drafted, broad patent can inhibit competitors, but claims may face challenges due to prior art.
4. What are the implications of this patent expiring soon?
Market exclusivity diminishes; generic manufacturers can enter, leading to price competition and reduced profits for patent holders.
5. Can this patent be extended beyond its original expiration?
In Korea, patent term extension is generally limited. To prolong protection, patentees might pursue secondary or continuation applications covering improvements or new uses.
References
- Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) Patent Database. [Accessed 2023]
- WIPO Patent Scope Database.
- Patent documentation and public disclosures related to KR20060124731.
Note: Specific details such as inventor, applicant/assignee, and exact claim language require access to the full patent document for precise analysis.
