Last updated: August 7, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20080037614, filed in South Korea, pertains to a pharmaceutical invention that potentially covers a novel compound, formulation, or therapeutic method. This analysis dissects the patent's scope, claims, and its position within the broader patent landscape to enable stakeholders—pharma companies, R&D organizations, legal advisors—to inform strategic decisions.
Patent Overview
Patent Number: KR20080037614
Application Filing Date: (Assumed, based on patent number sequence)
Priority Date: (Likely 2007-2008)
Publication Date: (Typically within 18 months post-filing, approximate around 2009)
Owner: (Not specified here; often a corporate or academic entity)
Field: Likely relates to pharmaceuticals—possible areas include anti-inflammatory agents, anticancer compounds, or metabolic disorder treatments, depending on the inventor's prior art.
Scope of the Patent
1. Main Focus
The patent appears to cover a specific chemical entity, its derivatives, or a formulation method for therapeutic use. The claims likely encompass:
- A novel molecule or class of compounds.
- An innovative pharmaceutical composition.
- A therapeutic method employing the compound(s), potentially for specific indications.
- A synthesis process or manufacturing method.
2. Patent Claims
The claims form the core legal scope and are usually divided into:
- Independent Claims: Broad, defining the core invention, often covering the compound itself, its unique features, or the therapeutic application.
- Dependent Claims: Narrower, adding specific embodiments, such as particular substitutions, dosing regimens, or formulation details.
Based on typical patent strategy, the independent claims probably cover:
- A new chemical compound with a specified structure or functional group.
- A use patent for treating a disease associated with this compound.
- A composition comprising the compound with excipients or delivery systems.
Dependent claims specify variations—e.g., salt forms, formulations, or methods of synthesis—to bolster patent life and scope.
Legal and Technical Scope
1. Chemical Structure and Novelty
The patent claims are likely centered around a chemical scaffold not previously disclosed, with claimed substitutions or functional groups that confer specific pharmacological properties. The scope depends heavily on the specificity of these structural features.
2. Therapeutic Claims
Claims might extend to methods of using the compound to treat specific diseases—e.g., cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, or metabolic disorders—based on demonstrated efficacy or in vitro/in vivo experiments.
3. Method of Manufacturing
Claims possibly include processes for synthesizing the compound, which provides additional geographical market exclusivity.
4. Patent Term and Patentability
Given the filing date (~2007-2008), the patent likely has 20-year patent life from the priority date, which would end around 2028-2029. For patentability, the invention must demonstrate novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability—criteria generally satisfied if the compound is structurally novel and provides meaningful therapeutic advantages.
Patent Landscape Context
1. Prior Art
The patent's novelty hinges on prior disclosures of similar compounds. A landscape search would involve:
- Existing patents on related chemical scaffolds.
- Literature on similar compounds used in relevant therapies.
- Patent publications from competitors, especially global patent families.
2. Competitors and Patent Families
It is essential to analyze patent filings of competitors in the same therapeutic area to understand freedom-to-operate and potential infringement risks. Similar patents prior to or shortly after KR20080037614 can threaten patent independence.
3. Subsequent Patent Consolidation
Post-2008, filings of divisional or continuation patents may have extended scope or refined claims, affecting market exclusivity.
Strategic Implications
1. Patent Strengths and Risks
- Strengths: Specific structural features, demonstrated bioactivity, and innovative synthetic methods bolster defensibility.
- Risks: Overlapping prior art or narrow claims could limit enforceability. The scope of claims determines market exclusivity; overly broad claims risk invalidation, while narrow claims limit coverage.
2. Competitive Positioning
The patent's claims potentially block competitors from developing similar compounds or formulations in South Korea for the claimed therapeutic use. Its status as a core patent impacts licensing, collaborations, and commercialization strategies.
3. Global Patent Considerations
Since patent rights are territorial, comparable patents in major jurisdictions (e.g., US, EU, China) are vital. Filing of corresponding patent families indicates broader strategic planning.
Conclusion
KR20080037614 appears to establish a patent portfolio around a novel pharmaceutical compound or method. Its scope hinges on the chemical definitions and therapeutic claims, offering competitive exclusivity within South Korea. Analyzing claims’ breadth reveals opportunities and potential vulnerabilities, especially if prior art closely resembles the invention.
Key Takeaways
- The patent likely centers on a distinct chemical entity or therapeutic use, with claims that define its scope narrowly or broadly based on structural features or indications.
- Competitors should scrutinize the claims against existing patents to identify potential infringement or freedom-to-operate issues.
- Ongoing patent landscape analysis is essential to evaluate the patent's durability, especially given the typical expiration timeline around 2028-2029.
- Protecting and enforcing the patent requires understanding its claims' scope relative to prior art and competitors’ filings.
- Strategic alignment with global patent strategies amplifies market exclusivity and strengthens licensing opportunities.
FAQs
1. What is the primary focus of patent KR20080037614?
It likely covers a novel chemical compound or therapeutic method intended for pharmaceutical use, with claims defining specific structural features or medicinal applications.
2. How broad are the claims typically in such pharmaceutical patents?
Claims can range from broad, encompassing a class of compounds or use cases, to narrow, specifying individual molecules or specific therapeutic indications.
3. What are the main risks associated with this patent?
Risks include overlapping prior art, claims being too narrow, or invalidation due to insufficient inventive step, which can limit market exclusivity.
4. How does this patent fit into the global patent landscape?
It may be part of an international patent family, with equivalent filings in other jurisdictions, impacting global commercialization strategies.
5. What strategic steps should patent holders consider?
They should monitor competitor filings, seek patent term extensions if applicable, and develop complementary patents (e.g., formulations, synthesis methods) to reinforce protection.
References
- [Patent KR20080037614 official publication]
- (Hypothetical) Patent landscape analyses and prior art searches from patent databases such as KIPRIS or WIPO PATENTSCOPE.
- Industry reports on pharmaceutical patent strategies.
- South Korean patent law guidelines for pharmaceutical patents.
- Global patent filing trends in pharmaceutical innovations.
Note: Exact filing and publication dates, inventor or assignee details, and specific claims were not provided and should be reviewed directly from the patent document for precision.
