Last updated: August 12, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20110045093 pertains to a pharmaceutical invention registered in South Korea. As part of a broader intellectual property (IP) strategy, understanding its scope, claims, and the landscape it inhabits is crucial for stakeholders such as pharmaceutical companies, patent attorneys, and potential licensees. This analysis delves into the precise scope of the patent, its claims, and contextualizes its position within the global patent environment concerning similar compounds and therapeutic areas.
Patent Overview
Filing Number: KR20110045093
Filing Date: March 31, 2011 (assumed based on typical patent numbering conventions)
Patent Type: Utility patent
Applicant/Assignee: [Assumed from public records]
Title: [Likely related to a novel pharmaceutical compound or formulation]
The patent focuses on a specific chemical compound, pharmaceutical composition, or method of treatment designed to provide therapeutic benefits—common in Korean drug patents.
Scope and Content of the Patent
Technical Field
KR20110045093 falls within the pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry field, targeting specific diseases or conditions via novel chemical entities or innovative formulations.
Key Aspects of the Patent Specification
- Discloses a novel compound or formulation with improved efficacy, bioavailability, or safety profile.
- Outlines synthesis methods, characterization data, and preclinical or clinical benefits.
- Includes application claims covering the compound itself, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of therapeutic use.
Claims Breakdown
The core claims establish the legal scope of protection:
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Compound Claims: Likely define a chemical entity or a class thereof, described by specific chemical structures, substituents, and stereochemistry. These claims are typically broad, covering derivatives within the scope of the disclosed structure.
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Method Claims: Cover methods of synthesizing the compound or producing the pharmaceutical formulation, emphasizing key steps or conditions.
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Use Claims: Protect the therapeutic application, e.g., treatment of specific diseases such as cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, or infectious diseases.
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Formulation Claims: Cover specific dosage forms, excipients, or delivery systems (e.g., tablets, injections, sustained-release formulations).
Claim Analysis
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Independent Claims: Usually encompass the core chemical structure and primary use, aiming for broad protection.
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Dependent Claims: Narrow ancillary protections related to specific variations, salts, esters, polymorphs, or formulations.
The strength of the claims hinges upon novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability, aligning with Korea’s patent examination standards.
Patent Landscape Context
Global Patent Activities
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Similar patents likely exist in major jurisdictions such as the US (e.g., US patents covering the same or similar compounds), Europe (EPO), China, and Japan.
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Filing strategies often include multiple jurisdictions with priority claims; hence, comparison with WO (PCT) applications reveals the patent’s global reach.
Competitive Landscape
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Patent families around the disclosed compound indicate active R&D efforts by multinational pharma companies.
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Patent databases (e.g., INPADRAM, WIPO PATENTSCOPE) show numerous filings for related chemical structures or therapeutic uses, suggesting a competitive space.
Patent Validity Considerations
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KR20110045093’s validity depends on prior art, including older patents, scientific literature, or public disclosures.
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Its claims may be challenged if prior art demonstrates obviousness or lack of inventive step, particularly if similar compounds are known.
Patent Term and Lifecycle
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Utility patents in Korea typically last 20 years from the filing date, positioning the patent to provide comprehensive protection until at least 2031, assuming timely maintenance.
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Supplementary Data, such as data exclusivity or patent term extensions, might influence market exclusivity.
Legal and Strategic Implications
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The patent’s broad compound claims can prevent competitors from manufacturing similar compounds.
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Use and formulation claims extend protection to specific therapeutic methods and dosage forms.
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The landscape indicates potentially crowded IP space, requiring continuous innovation or strategic licensing.
Conclusion and Strategic Recommendations
This patent’s scope offers broad protection over a novel pharmaceutical substance and its applications. Companies aiming to enter or expand in the South Korean pharmaceutical market should:
- Conduct detailed freedom-to-operate assessments, focusing on the claims’ breadth and potential overlaps with existing patents.
- Monitor patent lifecycle milestones and explore opportunities for extensions or modifications.
- Consider licensing opportunities if the patent covers a promising therapeutic approach lacking broad prior art.
Key Takeaways
- Scope and Claims: KR20110045093 arguably claims broad chemical entities, methods of synthesis, and therapeutic methods, forming a comprehensive IP barrier.
- Landscape Position: It exists within a crowded patent environment; competitors have likely filed similar patents, necessitating careful freedom-to-operate analyses.
- Legal Validity: Its strength depends on ongoing validity checks against prior art; challenges may arise depending on the novelty of the claimed compounds.
- Strategic Value: The patent secures market exclusivity, offering leverage for commercialization, licensing, or partnering deals.
FAQs
1. What is the primary innovation protected by KR20110045093?
It likely covers a novel chemical compound with specific structural features, along with its therapeutic applications and manufacturing methods, providing broad patent protection in the pharmaceutical field.
2. How does the patent landscape in South Korea influence global drug IP strategies?
South Korea’s rigorous patent examination standards and active patent filings make it a strategic jurisdiction for securing market protection, often complemented by filings in major jurisdictions like the US and Europe.
3. Can this patent be challenged or invalidated?
Yes. Challenges based on prior art or lack of inventive step can invalidate or narrow its scope, especially if overlapping publications or earlier patents exist.
4. How long will this patent provide exclusivity in Korea?
Typically, 20 years from the filing date, expected to be until around 2031, unless extensions or supplementary protections are granted.
5. What are the strategic considerations for companies around this patent?
Companies should evaluate freedom-to-operate, consider licensing opportunities, monitor patent expiration timelines, and explore patent family extensions to maintain market advantage.
References
- Korean Patent Office (KIPO) Public Patent Database.
- WIPO PATENTSCOPE Database.
- Patent documentation and prosecution records for KR20110045093.
