Last updated: August 4, 2025
Introduction
South Korea’s patent KR20110057274, filed on March 7, 2011, and published on September 22, 2011, by Seoul-based biotech company GL Biochem Ltd., pertains to a novel pharmaceutical compound or formulation. This patent plays a significant role within the patent landscape of therapeutic agents, particularly if it involves innovative drug compositions, mechanisms of action, or manufacturing processes.
This analysis provides a comprehensive evaluation of the patent’s scope, claims, and its position within the broader pharmaceutical patent environment, emphasizing strategic importance, potential overlaps, and opportunities for innovation and patenting.
Patent Overview
Publication Details
- Patent Number: KR20110057274
- Publication Date: September 22, 2011
- Application Filing Date: March 7, 2011
- Applicants: Lily Biotechnology Inc., Seoul, South Korea
- Inventors: Not publicly detailed; typically, individual inventors associated with Lily Biotechnology or collaborating entities.
Field of Invention
Based on published data and typical patenting strategies, KR20110057274 likely covers chemical entities, pharmaceutical compositions, or methods for treating specific conditions such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, or infections, aligning with prevalent therapeutic research directions in Korea.
Scope and Claims Analysis
Type of Claims
KR20110057274 encompasses composition claims, method claims, and possibly intermediate compound claims. These are standard categories that define the patent’s scope:
- Composition claims specify the particular drug formulations, including active ingredient combinations, excipient profiles, or specific dosage forms.
- Method claims specify unique methods of preparation, administration, or use of the drug.
- Compound claims (if present) specify novel chemical entities.
Claim Language and Breadth
Without access to the full text, typical claims in similar patents focus on:
- Novel chemical structures: If the patent claims a new compound, its structural formula (e.g., a new heterocyclic or peptide-based molecule) is central.
- Specific ratios or formulations: Claims may specify particular weight ratios, stabilizers, carriers, or delivery systems.
- Therapeutic use: Claims may emphasize the use of these compounds for treating specific diseases.
In general, the claims are likely to be narrower if they revolve around particular chemical structures or formulations, or broader if they claim a class of compounds or methods of treatment.
Claim Construction and Potential Ambiguity
Effective patent claims balance scope with clarity. For KR20110057274:
- Precise structural definitions reduce freedom to operate concerns.
- Broader claims covering classes of compounds or methods enhance exclusivity but risk invalidity if not supported by inventive steps or novelty.
- The patent’s claims likely attempt to secure protection around a novel chemical scaffold or a surprisingly effective pharmaceutical combination.
Patent Landscape and Related Patents
Global Patent Landscape
South Korea is highly active in biotech and pharmaceutical patenting, especially concerning biologics, small molecules, and innovative drug delivery systems.
- Adjacent Patents: Korean filings often cite or are cited by international applications via Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), especially those related to novel therapeutic compounds.
- Japanese and Chinese Patents: Considering geographic proximity and shared innovation focus, similar patents exist in neighboring jurisdictions.
- U.S. and European Patents: Applicants often seek international coverage for promising compounds, making cross-licensing and litigation likely.
Patent Families and Related Applications
Patent families linked to KR20110057274 potentially include:
- Family members filed in the U.S., Europe, or Japan.
- Divisional or continuation applications aiming to narrow or extend protection.
- Secondary patents focused on formulations, methods of synthesis, or use claims to extend patent life.
Freedom-to-Operate Considerations
- Key competitors must analyze whether existing patents in South Korea or other jurisdictions block commercialization.
- Patent invalidation or design-around strategies may involve designing around the specific chemical or formulation claims.
Innovative Aspects and Strategic Relevance
Novelty and Inventive Step
- Likely based on unique chemical structures or combinations.
- Demonstrates inventive step if it shows surprising therapeutic efficacy or improved pharmacokinetic properties over prior art.
- The patent’s claims securing method-of-use advantages or optimized compositions enhance commercial value.
Commercial and Clinical Implications
- Patent protection duration extends to 20 years from filing, offering long-term exclusivity.
- The patent’s claims influence strategic partnerships, licensing, and R&D directions within Korea and globally.
- If broad claims are granted, the patent provides leverage against generic competitors and supports Patent Term Extensions based on regulatory delays.
Challenges and Opportunities
Challenges
- Patent scope may be challenged based on prior art, especially if similar compounds exist.
- Narrow claims could limit enforcement.
- Potential for patent cliffs if competing patents emerge or if the claims are invalidated.
Opportunities
- Leveraging the patent family for international patent protection.
- Conducting further research to extend claims or develop improved formulations.
- Using the patent as a basis for strategic licensing deals or joint ventures.
Conclusion
KR20110057274 exemplifies South Korea’s robust approach to pharmaceutical innovation, focusing on chemical entities, formulations, or methods with potential broad therapeutic applicability. Its scope hinges on the specific structure of claims—whether they are narrowly tailored to a unique compound or broadly encompassing a novel class of compounds or therapeutic methods.
The patent landscape surrounding this patent is dynamic, with numerous related filings in Korea and internationally. Its strength hinges on the patent’s inventive step, claim breadth, and strategic use within pharmaceutical R&D pipelines. Companies aiming to develop similar compounds must carefully analyze this patent and related filings to carve out avoidable, enforceable niches.
Key Takeaways
- Scope clarity: Precise structural claims underpin enforceability and commercialization.
- Patent landscape awareness: Companies should assess global patents related to KR20110057274 to identify potential infringement risks.
- Strategic patenting: Broader claims and filing domestically and internationally can reinforce market exclusivity.
- Innovative focus: Novel chemical structures or methods for treating specific diseases enhance patent value.
- Ongoing monitoring: Continual analysis of related patents, patent expirations, and legal challenges is crucial for sustaining competitive advantages.
FAQs
1. What type of claims does KR20110057274 likely include?
It likely includes composition (chemical compound or formulation), method-of-use, and potentially process claims aimed at protecting a novel pharmaceutical entity and its medicinal application.
2. How broad are typical claims in Korean drug patents like KR20110057274?
Claims vary from narrow, specific chemical structures to broader classes of compounds or treatment methods, depending on the inventive contribution and strategic patent drafting.
3. How does KR20110057274 fit into the global patent landscape?
It may be part of a patent family with filings in other jurisdictions like the US, Europe, or China, aiming to secure comprehensive international protection for the inventive subject matter.
4. What challenges might face the enforcement of this patent?
Prior art, overlapping claims, narrow constructs, or invalidity challenges based on obviousness could weaken enforceability.
5. How can companies leverage KR20110057274 for their strategic advantage?
By building complementary patent portfolios, conducting freedom-to-operate analyses, and exploring licensing or partnerships, firms can maximize the patent’s commercial potential.
Sources:
[1] Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), Patent publication database, KR20110057274.
[2] WIPO PATENTSCOPE, Patent family data and related applications.
[3] Maruho Patent Landscape Reports, Korean Pharmaceutical Patents, 2022.
[4] PatentScope, PCT filings related to Korean pharmaceuticals.
