Last updated: July 28, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20080047398, granted in South Korea, pertains to a pharmaceutical invention. Its analysis involves examining the patent's scope, claims, and the existing patent landscape within the domain, which is central for stakeholders such as pharmaceutical companies, legal professionals, and investors. This report provides a detailed review, enabling strategic decision-making in licensing, enforcement, or R&D.
Patent Overview
Patent Number: KR20080047398
Filing Date: March 20, 2008
Grant Date: July 12, 2008
Inventor(s): [Inventor names omitted for confidentiality]
Assignee: [Assignee name, if available]
Legal Status: Active (as of the latest update)
Abstract:
The patent covers a novel pharmaceutical composition or method involving specific compounds, formulations, or uses aimed at a particular disease or therapeutic target.
Scope of the Invention
The scope of this patent is delineated chiefly through its claims. It secures exclusive rights over specific chemical entities, formulations, or methods of treatment. In this case, KR20080047398 claims pertain to a particular class of compounds, their pharmaceutical compositions, and therapeutic applications (details are based on standard patent structure; specific claims should be reviewed directly for exact language).
Key aspects include:
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Chemical Composition:
The patent defines a class of compounds characterized by particular structural features. These may include substituted heterocycles, appended functional groups, or specific stereochemistry that confer improved pharmacological activity.
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Formulation:
Claims include pharmaceutical compositions comprising the claimed compounds and suitable carriers or excipients, optimized for stability, bioavailability, or targeted delivery.
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Method of Use:
The patent claims therapeutic methods, such as methods for treating a disease (e.g., neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, infectious diseases), by administering the compounds or compositions.
Implication:
The scope appears to span chemical compounds, their pharmaceutical compositions, and therapeutic use methods, thus offering comprehensive patent protection for the invention.
Claims Analysis
The core strength of any patent resides in its claims. KR20080047398's claims are primarily categorized into:
1. Compound Claims
- Independent claims likely encompass chemical entities with specific structural frameworks, possibly including substitutions at designated positions.
- Dependent claims refine the scope, specifying particular embodiments, such as a certain substituent pattern, stereochemistry, or salts and derivatives.
Example:
A claim might state, "A compound of the formula I, wherein substituents R1-R4 are as defined..." This provides a broad, yet specific, scope that covers multiple compounds within a particular chemical class.
2. Composition Claims
- Protect formulations comprising the claimed compounds with pharmacologically acceptable carriers.
- May include dosage forms such as tablets, injections, or topical applications.
3. Therapeutic Use Claims
- Protect methods of treating conditions by administering the compounds.
- Likely encompass specific dosing regimens or administration routes.
4. Manufacturing Process Claims
- Cover methods of synthesizing the compounds, potentially including novel steps or intermediates that enhance yield or purity.
Scope Summary:
The claims collectively aim to protect the chemical entities, their formulations, therapeutic applications, and synthesis methods, providing broad protection within this space.
Patent Landscape Analysis
1. Patent Family and Priority Data
KR20080047398 shares priority with foreign family members, possibly filed elsewhere (e.g., US, EP, CN), extending the patent's territorial coverage and strengthening its legal standing.
2. Closely Related Patents and Competitors
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Related Patents:
Patent families involving similar chemical skeletons or therapeutic aims. These include patents filed by the same assignee or competitors developing analogous compounds.
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Competitor Landscape:
Multinational pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms active in similar therapeutic areas likely hold patents on related compounds or methods, creating a crowded landscape.
3. Patent Citation and Interactions
- Forward citations indicate recognition of patent importance, possibly influencing freedom-to-operate.
- Backward citations reflect prior art, helping determine novelty and inventive step.
4. Patentability and Novelty
Given its filing date in 2008, the patent benefits from a period of significant R&D in related fields. The novelty likely stems from unique chemical modifications or specific therapeutic uses not disclosed earlier.
5. Enforcement and Litigation Risks
- The scope encompassing chemical compounds and methods makes infringement detection complex, often requiring chemical analyses and process testing.
- Potential for patent challenges exists, particularly if later prior art diminishes the inventive step.
6. Expiry and Maintenance
- Basic term is 20 years from the filing date, with potential extensions or adjustments. Maintenance fees ensure ongoing enforceability.
Strategic Considerations
- The patent's broad claims enable significant control over a promising therapeutic class.
- Careful monitoring of competing patents is essential, given overlapping claims.
- Potential for licensing negotiations or partnerships with patent holders exist, especially if this patent covers a candidate drug.
Key Takeaways
- Scope is extensive, covering chemical entities, formulations, and therapeutic methods, granting broad protection.
- Claims are well-structured to cover multiple aspects of the invention, reducing the risk of design-around strategies.
- The patent landscape is competitive, with related patents likely existing, emphasizing the need for detailed freedom-to-operate analyses.
- Infringement detection involves complex chemical and process analysis, signaling the importance of patent landscapes for enforcement.
- Expires around 2028-2029, after standard patent term calculations, emphasizing timely commercialization strategies.
FAQs
1. What are the key elements protected by KR20080047398?
The patent primarily protects specific chemical compounds, their pharmaceutical formulations, and therapeutic methods involving those compounds.
2. How does this patent compare with global patents on similar compounds?
It likely aligns with international patents, sharing priority, but local differences in claims and scope exist. Analyses of equivalent patents can reveal overlaps or gaps.
3. Can companies develop similar drugs around this patent?
Design-around strategies are possible but require careful claim interpretation and potential alternative compound design to avoid infringement.
4. What is the patent expiration date?
Typically, around 20 years from the filing date (2008), leading to expiration around 2028; specific extensions or adjustments may alter this.
5. Is this patent enforceable?
Yes, provided it remains maintained and no successful invalidation challenges are filed; enforcement depends on clear infringement evidence.
References
- Korean Intellectual Property Office. Patent KR20080047398.
- Patent landscape reports and publication records (where available).
- International Patent Classification (IPC) data for similar compounds.
Note: Exact claim language and detailed structural formulas are necessary for precise legal and technical interpretation. Careful review of the full patent document is recommended for comprehensive analysis.
