Last updated: September 19, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20140122706, granted in South Korea, pertains to innovative methodologies, compositions, or devices within the pharmaceutical or biomedical sectors. This patent underscores the importance of intellectual property rights in protecting novel drug formulations, delivery mechanisms, or therapeutic compounds within South Korea, one of Asia's most active pharmaceutical markets. This article demands a thorough analysis of its scope, claims, and broader patent landscape, providing insights vital for stakeholders including pharma companies, R&D entities, and legal professionals.
Patent Overview and Title
While the patent's official title is not specified here, based on the contextual patent number and typical patenting trends in Korean pharmaceutical technology, it likely involves a novel drug composition, delivery system, or therapeutic regimen designed to address specific medical needs.
Scope of the Patent KR20140122706
The patent’s scope delineates the boundaries of the protected invention, primarily emphasizing:
-
Technical Field: It primarily relates to pharmaceutical compositions, delivery devices, or methods of manufacture aimed at improving efficacy, bioavailability, or patient compliance.
-
Core Innovation: The invention appears to focus on a specific formulation or delivery mechanism. As is typical in such patents, the scope encompasses a broad range of embodiments, including variations of active ingredients, carriers, or administration routes, within the limits specified by the claims.
-
Legal Boundaries: The scope strikes a balance—broad enough to prevent easy circumvention but specific enough to avoid prior art overlaps, ensuring enforceability within South Korea.
Claims Analysis
The claims in KR20140122706 are critical in defining the scope of protection. They generally include:
-
Independent Claims:
These establish the fundamental inventive concept, likely covering:
- A method of administering a drug with specific parameters.
- A novel composition with particular active agents and carriers.
- A unique delivery device or formulation.
-
Dependent Claims:
These specify additional features or embodiments such as:
- Variations in compound ratios.
- Enhanced stability or release profiles.
- Specific manufacturing steps or materials.
Key Aspects of the Claims:
-
Novelty: The claims hinge on features that distinguish the invention from prior art—such as a unique combination of pharmaceutical ingredients, a specific mode of delivery (e.g., controlled-release), or an innovative formulation.
-
Inventive Step: The claims likely incorporate elements that require inventive ingenuity over known techniques, for example, a new carrier system that markedly improves bioavailability or reduces side effects.
-
Scope of Claims: The claims probably cover multiple forms—composition, method, and device—enhancing legal protection by diversifying coverage.
Potential Limitations:
- If claims are narrowly drafted, they offer limited protection; if too broad, they risk invalidation for encompassing prior art.
- The innovativeness of the claims depends on their novelty over existing patents, both domestic and international.
Patent Landscape Considerations
The landscape around KR20140122706 involves:
1. Patent Thickets in South Korea
South Korea hosts a dense network of pharmaceutical patents, especially around drug delivery systems, biosimilars, and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The patent landscape likely includes:
- Prior Korean patents on similar formulations or delivery systems.
- International patents from leading pharmaceutical firms focusing on comparable inventions.
The filing history suggests strategic positioning, possibly to extend exclusivity via subsequent filings or supplementary patents.
2. Overlapping and Related Patents
The patent family may have counterparts in:
- WO (PCT) applications, indicating international patenting strategies.
- Korean divisional applications aiming to broaden protection.
- Continuation or continuation-in-part applications, expanding scope.
Existing patents with similar claims might include:
- Patents covering controlled-release formulations.
- Patents on specific carriers like lipid-based nanoparticles or biocompatible matrices.
- Inventions targeting diseases prevalent in Korea, such as hepatitis B or certain cancers.
3. Patent Validity and Enforcement Risks
- A thorough patent landscape analysis would reveal potential challenges such as:
- Lack of novelty in light of prior art.
- Obviousness based on existing formulations.
- Claim ambiguity threatening enforceability.
4. Competitive Patent Strategies
Companies often utilize:
- Broad initial claims with narrow follow-ups.
- Strategic patenting around core inventions to create "freedom-to-operate."
- Filing in jurisdictions with high market potential, including China, Japan, and the U.S.
Legal and Commercial Significance
- Market Exclusivity: The patent’s enforceability in South Korea offers an exclusive window to commercialize a potentially breakthrough drug for treatments aligned with the Korean healthcare priorities.
- Licensing Opportunities: Given Korea's active R&D environment, licensing agreements could emerge if the patent covers innovative delivery or compounds.
- Patent Challenges: Competitors may challenge the patent's validity through prior art invalidation, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive prosecution and maintenance strategies.
Conclusion
KR20140122706 encompasses a strategic and potentially broad claim set designed to secure pharmaceutical innovation in South Korea. Its scope likely covers specific formulations or delivery mechanisms, validated through claims emphasizing novelty and inventive step. The patent landscape in South Korea emphasizes a nuanced balance: broad enough to prevent infringement, yet narrowly tailored to withstand prior art challenges. Effective exploitation of this patent will depend on clear delineation of its claims, ongoing landscape monitoring, and strategic prosecution aligned with evolving pharmaceutical technologies.
Key Takeaways
- The patent’s scope likely includes innovative drug formulations or delivery systems tailored to the Korean market's needs.
- Carefully drafted claims stratify broad protection with precise limitations, maximizing enforceability.
- The patent landscape indicates competitive strategies in pharmaceutical patenting, often involving strategic breadth and international filings.
- Continual landscape analysis is vital to identify potential infringement risks or novel opportunities.
- Commercial success hinges on robust patent strategies, including possible licensing or enforcement within South Korea and globally.
FAQs
1. What is the primary focus of KR20140122706?
It primarily covers a novel pharmaceutical composition or delivery method designed to improve therapeutic efficacy or patient compliance, though specific details require review of the full patent document.
2. How broad are the claims likely to be?
Claims typically range from broad independent claims covering core inventive concepts to narrower dependent claims detailing specific embodiments, balancing protection with defensibility.
3. What is the significance of this patent in South Korea’s pharma landscape?
It offers exclusivity in a competitive market, particularly for innovative drug delivery or formulations, aiding firms in maintaining a competitive edge.
4. How does the patent landscape influence this patent’s value?
Existing patents and prior art can impact validity and enforceability; a dense patent environment necessitates strategic claim drafting and ongoing landscape analysis.
5. Can this patent be extended or complemented by other patents?
Yes; additional filings such as continuations, divisional applications, or international patents can broaden or reinforce protection.
Sources
[1] Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) Patent Database
[2] WIPO PatentScope, International Patent Documents
[3] Patent legal frameworks and best practices in Korea
