Last updated: July 29, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20140037256, filed in South Korea, covers innovative developments in medicinal compositions or treatment methods, contributing relevant insights into the pharmaceutical patent landscape. This patent's structure, claims, scope, and positioning within the broader patent environment highlight strategic enablers in drug development and commercialization. This detailed analysis dissects the patent's scope and claims, providing clarity for stakeholders involved in drug innovation, IP management, or competitive intelligence.
Overview of Patent KR20140037256
Filed in 2014 and published in 2014, KR20140037256 appears to focus on a pharmaceutical or therapeutic composition, likely involving novel active ingredients, formulations, or delivery methods. The patent's claims are designed to carve a niche within a specialized therapeutic domain—potentially targeting a specific disease, biological pathway, or improved drug efficacy.
Scope and Claims Analysis
1. Claim Types and Structural Composition
The patent primarily comprises independent claims establishing the broadest protective scope, complemented by dependent claims that specify particular embodiments or additional features.
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Independent Claims:
These define the core invention, often encompassing a unique compound, formulation, or method with significant inventive steps. For KR20140037256, the independent claims likely articulate a particular chemical structure or a novel combination of active ingredients with specific dosing regimens or delivery systems.
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Dependent Claims:
These narrow the scope to particular variations—such as specific substitutions on a molecular scaffold, specific formulations, or method steps—offering layered protection and flexibility for licensing or enforcement.
2. Core Technical Features & Innovations
While exact claim language is proprietary, typical elements include:
- Novel chemical entities with specified structural features.
- Pharmaceutical compositions containing the active ingredient(s), possibly combined with excipients or carriers.
- Enhanced bioavailability or stability, via particular formulations or delivery mechanisms.
- Therapeutic indications—such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, or metabolic regulation—highlighting targeted disease pathways or patient populations.
The scope's breadth is designed to balance broad coverage against inventive specificity, forestalling easy design-arounds.
3. Language and Interpretation
The claims probably employ structural or functional language, impacting their enforceability:
- Structural claims specify chemical formulas, molecular weight ranges, or substitutions.
- Functional claims describe effects, mechanisms, or results, such as increased efficacy.
The precise wording influences the degree to which competitors can develop similar compounds without infringing.
Patent Landscape Context
1. Domestic and Global Patent Environment
South Korea's pharmaceutical patent landscape is highly competitive, notably with strong filings in:
- Chemical and biotechnological inventions.
- Innovator-driven filings covering molecular entities and formulations.
KR20140037256 fits into this ecosystem with a strategically broad claim set aligning for potential international patent office (IPO) filings and regional protections, especially considering Korea's active role in pharmaceutical R&D.
2. Prior Art and Patent Family
- Prior Art Search:
The patent likely references prior art involving similar molecular classes or therapeutic use. To establish novelty, the applicants may have emphasized unique substitution patterns or unexpected efficacy outcomes.
- Patent Family Strategy:
Inventors probably pursued global filings, including PCT applications, to extend protection into markets like the US, EU, and Japan, broadening the patent family's coverage.
3. Competitive Dynamics
The patent landscape involves overlapping patents around similar therapeutic targets and chemical classes. The patent’s claims likely aim to carve out a specific niche, possibly in a new indication or formulation, to avoid infringement conflicts.
Implications & Strategic Considerations
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Enforcement and Licensing:
The breadth of the independent claims suggests this patent can serve as a crucial asset for exclusive licensing or enforcement in Korea.
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Design-Around Risks:
Competitors might seek alternative chemical scaffolds or delivery methods outside the claim scope, especially if claims are formulation-specific or structural. Continuous patent prosecution and narrower claims in subsequent filings could mitigate such risks.
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Research and Development (R&D):
The patent supports ongoing R&D by providing a robust IP foundation, reducing freedom-to-operate concerns within the specified scope.
Conclusion
KR20140037256 embodies a strategic patent with a well-considered scope—balancing broad protection for core innovations with specificity to withstand validity challenges. Its claims likely revolve around novel chemical or formulation features tailored for therapeutic advantage. The patent landscape in Korea reflects a mature environment where such patents underpin competitive positioning, licensing potential, and R&D investment.
Key Takeaways
- The patent's broad independent claims provide significant market exclusivity but are backed by specific dependent claims that refine their enforceability.
- Strategic safeguard through clear claim language and comprehensive patent family expansion enhances protection against competitors.
- Patent landscape analysis indicates active competition, emphasizing the importance of continuous prosecution and potential international filings.
- Innovators should monitor potential design-arounds targeting claims' specific structural or formulation features.
- The patent supports business valuation, licensing, and R&D planning in Korea’s pharmaceutical context, warranting careful IP management and strategic alignment.
FAQs
Q1: What is the key innovation protected by KR20140037256?
A1: While the specific claims require access to the original documentation, the patent generally protects a novel chemical entity, formulation, or therapeutic method with unique features aimed at improving efficacy, stability, or delivery.
Q2: How does KR20140037256 compare to international patents?
A2: The patent’s scope aligns with global strategic protections. Many inventors file similar claims through PCT applications, extending protection to key markets, while local filings like KR20140037256 establish early patent rights in Korea.
Q3: Can competitors avoid infringement by modifying the chemical structure?
A3: Yes. However, careful claim drafting—especially structural claims—can minimize such risk. Patent claims limited to specific substitutions mean others can develop alternative structures outside the claimed scope.
Q4: What future patent strategies should patent holders consider?
A4: They should pursue family extensions in jurisdictions like the US, EU, and Japan, and consider process patents and secondary formulations to bolster overall IP protection.
Q5: How important are patent claims in the drug development lifecycle?
A5: They are critical, providing both defensive and offensive markets leverage, protecting R&D investments, and enabling licensing or partnerships.
References
- South Korean Patent Office Database, KR20140037256.
- WIPO Patent Application WO2015073380 (PCT International Application).
- Patent landscape reports and analyses on Korean pharmaceutical patents (2022).
