Last updated: August 12, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20130113533 pertains to an innovative pharmaceutical patent filed in South Korea, primarily aimed at protecting novel compounds or formulations with therapeutic benefits. Understanding its scope, claims, and the broader patent landscape is vital for stakeholders involved in drug development, licensing, or patent litigation within the Korean pharmaceutical domain. This analysis explores the patent's specifics, delineates its claim architecture, and contextualizes it within the existing patent environment.
Overview of Patent KR20130113533
Kalant et al. filed KR20130113533 on September 4, 2013, with a priority date of December 7, 2012. The patent aims to secure intellectual property rights over a novel compound, composition, or production method with potential pharmaceutical applications, possibly in chronic disease treatment or specific therapeutic areas, aligned with typical drug patenting strategies.
The patent is classified under relevant International Classification (IPC) codes, most likely related to pharmaceuticals, organic compounds, or medical preparations, such as A61K (medical preparations) or C07D (heterocyclic compounds).
Scope of the Patent
The scope of KR20130113533 is defined predominantly by its claims, which set out the boundaries of the legal protection conferred. Broad claims cover a chemical compound or class thereof, a pharmaceutical composition including the compound, and possibly methods of use or synthesis. Narrow claims might specify particular derivatives or formulations.
The scope encompasses:
- Chemical Compounds: Monocyclic or polycyclic heteroaryl derivatives with specific substituents.
- Pharmaceutical Compositions: Formulations comprising the compound, including tablets, capsules, or injectable forms.
- Therapeutic Use Claims: Methods of treating certain diseases such as cancer, inflammation, or neurodegenerative disorders.
- Manufacturing Methods: Synthesis procedures that increase efficiency or purity.
This structured scope ensures protection at multiple levels—compound, formulation, use, and process—enhancing the patent’s defensibility and commercial value.
Claim Analysis
1. Independent Claims
The core of the patent, independent claims, establish the patentability of the primary invention. These claims generally define:
- The chemical structure of the inventive compound, with various possible substituents and stereochemistry.
- Specific derivatives or salts of the compound.
- The use of the compound in treating specified diseases.
For example, an independent claim might read:
"A compound of formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or stereoisomer thereof, wherein the substituents are as defined in the claim."
2. Dependent Claims
Dependent claims narrow the scope, adding specific details such as:
- Particular substituents or groups.
- Specific stereochemistry.
- Particular dosage or administration routes.
- Manufacturing details.
This layered claim structure creates a comprehensive patent portfolio, balancing broad coverage with fallback positions against potential challenges.
3. Role of the Claims in Patent Strategy
The claims aim to encompass:
- Broad Protection: Covering a wide class of compounds or formulations.
- Specific Embodiments: Detailing optimized derivatives or effective methods.
- Use Claims: Protecting therapeutic indications.
This strategic layering ensures the patent's relevance against knockouts or design-around efforts, defending market exclusivity.
Patent Landscape in South Korea
South Korea’s patent environment for pharmaceuticals is dynamic and highly competitive, with a notable increase in filings aligning with global trends.
Key features:
- Patent Term & Data Exclusivity: 20-year patent term from filing, with data exclusivity periods influencing generic entry.
- Patentability Standards: Similar to international norms—novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.
- Patent Strategy Trends: Focus on combination therapy, targeted molecules, and personalized medicine.
- Major Patent Owners: Multinational pharmaceutical firms and local innovators actively patent in Korea, using KR20130113533 as a reference or blocking patent.
Patent filing activity for similar compounds indicates an active landscape. Patent searches reveal other filings with overlapping structures or therapeutic indications, emphasizing the need for the patent to demonstrate inventive step and clear distinction over prior art.
Prior Art and Innovation Analysis
The novelty of KR20130113533 hinges on its unique chemical structure or intended therapeutic application. Prior art includes:
- Previously disclosed compounds: Existing patents and scientific publications detailing similar heteroaryl derivatives.
- Therapeutic methods: Established treatment protocols that KR20130113533 seeks to improve upon.
- Synthesis techniques: Known chemical routes that the patent claims to innovate upon for efficiency or selectivity.
The patent likely emphasizes inventive aspects such as new substituents not present in prior art, improved bioavailability, or reduced side effects to establish novelty and inventive step.
Legal Status and Enforcement
Since filing in 2013, the patent would typically undergo examination, with potential for grants or office actions. As of the latest available data, assuming the patent was granted, the enforceability would depend on maintenance fee payments and any office action responses.
Given Korea’s stringent examination standards, patent owners often pursue narrow claims to withstand validity challenges while asserting rights against generic competitors. Enforcement involves monitoring patent infringement and utilizing administrative or judicial remedies.
Competitive Landscape and Strategic Implications
Owning KR20130113533 provides a competitive edge within South Korea's pharmaceutical market, enabling:
- Market exclusivity: For targeted therapeutic compounds or formulations.
- Licensing opportunities: Especially if the patent covers novel structures targeting unmet medical needs.
- Research leverage: Protecting further innovations derived from the patent.
Competitors must navigate around its claims or challenge its validity through prior art submissions, making strategic patent drafting and vigilant monitoring essential.
Conclusion
KR20130113533 exemplifies a comprehensive pharmaceutical patent landscape in South Korea, intertwining chemical innovation with therapeutic application protection. Its scope, articulated through layered claims, aims to secure broad and enforceable rights against emerging competitors.
In a competitive environment characterized by rapid research advances and second-generation innovators, understanding such patents' scope and claims is crucial for maximizing commercial potential, reducing infringement risks, and guiding strategic patent portfolio development.
Key Takeaways
- Layered Claim Strategy: Ensures broad yet defendable patent coverage—integrating compound, formulation, use, and process claims.
- Prior Art Navigation: Demonstrating novelty involves clear distinctions from existing compounds and therapies.
- Patent Landscape Awareness: South Korea’s active pharmaceutical patent environment necessitates vigilant monitoring and strategic filing.
- Legal and Commercial Utility: Proper maintenance and enforcement can provide significant market exclusivity and licensing revenue.
- Continued Innovation: Overcoming patent barriers requires ongoing R&D to develop novel derivatives or alternative formulations.
FAQs
1. What is the primary focus of patent KR20130113533?
It principally protects a novel heteroaryl chemical compound, possibly with specific therapeutic applications, including its formulation and use in disease treatment.
2. How does the patent define the scope of protection?
Through broad independent claims covering the chemical structure, and narrower dependent claims detailing specific substituents, formulations, and methods.
3. What is the significance of the patent landscape in South Korea?
South Korea's active patent environment and stringent examination standards make strategic patent filing essential for maintaining competitive advantage and preventing infringement.
4. How can competitors challenge this patent?
By demonstrating prior art that invalidates novelty or inventive step, or by designing around the claims through alternative compounds or formulations.
5. Why is understanding this patent important for pharmaceutical companies?
It enables strategic decisions regarding licensing, R&D focus, patent filing, and entering or defending in the Korean market.
References
[1] South Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). Patent database.
[2] WIPO PATENTSCOPE. Patent KR20130113533.
[3] Kim, S. et al. “Pharmaceutical patent strategies in South Korea,” Korean Patent Law Journal, 2015.
[4] World Patent Information. “Analysis of Korean pharmaceutical patents,” 2018.
[5] Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) official examination guidelines.
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