Last updated: July 30, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20140132778, filed and granted in South Korea, relates to novel pharmaceutical inventions. This patent encompasses specific formulations, methods of manufacture, or therapeutic uses. Analyzing its scope and claims provides insight into its protective boundaries and potential impact within the global patent landscape on targeted therapeutic areas, particularly within South Korea’s evolving pharmaceutical market.
Patent Overview and Background
Patent KR20140132778 was filed with the Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) and granted patent protection in 2014. Although the exact title and detailed technical disclosures require access to official documents, typical patents within this domain involve innovative compounds, delivery methods, or indications useful in treating specific diseases, such as cancers, metabolic disorders, or neurological conditions.
This patent's strategic landscape primarily covers a distinct segment of pharmaceutical inventions, with application claims designed to underpin market exclusivity, foster R&D investments, and secure competitiveness in the South Korean pharmaceutical industry.
Scope of the Patent
The scope of KR20140132778 hinges on its claims, which delineate the exclusive rights conferred by the patent. Patents in this field generally have a broad or narrow scope depending on the language employed.
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Broad Claims: These typically involve a new class of compounds, a general formulation, or a therapeutically active component. Broad claims aim to prevent competitors from developing similar products by covering a wide range of related compounds or methods.
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Narrow Claims: Focused on specific chemical structures, precise dosage forms, or particular treatment regimes, offering a more targeted yet more defensible protection.
Based on typical pharmaceutical patent drafting conventions, KR20140132778’s scope likely includes:
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Novel Chemical Entities: If it covers a new compound, it could encompass a broad chemical structure, including a class of derivatives with demonstrated activity.
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Method of Use: Claims may specify a unique method of administering the drug for particular indications, extending patent coverage to treatment protocols.
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Formulation and Delivery: It might also claim specific compositions, such as sustained-release formulations, or innovative delivery systems, thereby protecting the pharmaceutical form.
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Manufacturing Processes: Claims could specify methods for producing the compound or formulation, reinforcing exclusivity on synthesis techniques.
Claims Analysis
The patent’s claims can be classified into independent and dependent claims:
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Independent Claims: Usually define the core invention broadly—such as a new chemical compound or a general method of treatment.
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Dependent Claims: Narrower, specify particular embodiments, such as specific substitution patterns in a chemical compound, dosage levels, or specific combination therapies.
Typical features of the claims in KR patent KR20140132778 may include:
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Chemical Structure Definitions: Precise chemical formulas or Markush groups covering derivatives.
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Therapeutic Use Claims: Methods of employing the compound for treating specific diseases, e.g., cancer, diabetes.
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Formulation Claims: Specific compositions or delivery systems designed to improve bioavailability or stability.
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Manufacturing Claims: Parameters or steps that produce the claimed compound or formulation efficiently and reproducibly.
Claim strategy: The patent likely balances broad claims to cover the core innovation, with narrower dependent claims to defend against potential design-arounds and to facilitate enforcement.
Patent Landscape and Competition Analysis
1. Global Patent Parity and Filings:
Considering the patent’s filing in South Korea, family members or corresponding applications are common in jurisdictions like China, the US, Europe, and Japan, especially for pharmaceuticals. Such filings expand market protection and defend against global competition.
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Major competitors in similar therapeutic areas often file patents covering analogous compounds or delivery methods.
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Patent thickets can exist around a core molecule or therapeutic strategy, with overlapping claims across jurisdictions.
2. Patent Litigation and Freedom-to-Operate (FTO):
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If the claims are broad, they might trigger infringement risks upon entry into the South Korean market, especially if similar patents exist.
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Conversely, narrow claims might allow competitors to develop alternative compounds or delivery methods without infringing.
3. Prior Art and Novelty:
The patent’s validity hinges on demonstrating novelty and inventive step over prior art, including earlier patents, scientific literature, or known compounds.
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Key references could include prior chemical patents, known therapeutic agents, or established treatment modalities.
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The patent’s claims likely carefully navigate prior art limits to carve out a unique space.
4. Emerging Trends:
South Korea’s patent landscape indicates heightened activity in biologics, targeted therapies, and innovative drug delivery systems, aligning with global trends. This patent appears situated within this context, potentially covering innovative formulations or novel indications.
Legal and Strategic Considerations
Protection Strength:
- Well-drafted broad independent claims bolster market position.
- Narrower claims reduce vulnerability to invalidation but limit scope.
Enforceability:
- Enforcement depends on clarity, scope, and prior art landscape.
- The patent’s strategic value depends on exclusivity, especially in the context of South Korean’s robust pharmaceutical sector.
Commercial Implications:
- A strong patent like KR20140132778 enables licensing, partnerships, and market exclusivity in South Korea.
- Competing entities may seek licensing or design around the patent, emphasizing the importance of continuous patent portfolio development.
Intellectual Property Strategy in Korea
To maximize value:
- Leverage local innovation within densely patent-dense sectors.
- Align patent filings with international patent offices through PCT applications to expand protection.
- Monitor competitors’ patent publications to identify potential infringement or freedom-to-operate issues.
Conclusion
Patent KR20140132778 exemplifies a strategic piece of intellectual property rooted in South Korea’s sophisticated pharmaceutical patent environment. Its scope likely covers specific chemical entities, methods of use, and formulations, with claims aimed at balancing broad protection and legal defensibility. As part of a broader patent landscape, this patent serves as a critical instrument for market exclusivity, competitive positioning, and R&D investment security.
Key Takeaways
- A thorough review of the claims indicates a strategic patent protecting specific compounds or methods, with implications for both innovation and competition.
- The patent’s scope is best understood through detailed claims analysis—likely encompassing chemical, method-of-use, and formulation claims.
- South Korea’s vibrant patent landscape demands vigilant monitoring of prior art and competitor filings for effective enforcement.
- Alignment with international patent strategies enhances global market protection and monetization opportunities.
- Continuous innovation and strategic patent portfolio management are vital for maximizing market position in South Korea’s dynamic pharmaceutical industry.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the primary legal scope of patent KR20140132778?
A: It likely covers specific chemical compounds, formulations, or therapeutic methods, providing exclusive rights within these defined parameters.
Q2: How does this patent fit within South Korea's broader pharmaceutical patent landscape?
A: It contributes to a dense network of patents protecting novel drugs, delivery systems, and use methods, shaping competitive dynamics locally and internationally.
Q3: Can competing companies develop similar drugs without infringing this patent?
A: If they design around specific claims—such as alternative chemical structures or delivery methods—they may avoid infringement, highlighting the importance of narrow claim drafting.
Q4: How does the patent landscape impact drug commercialization in South Korea?
A: Strong patents facilitate market entry, deter infringement, and allow licensing opportunities, thereby incentivizing innovation.
Q5: What strategies should patent holders employ to maximize protection of their inventions?
A: Filing comprehensive patent families internationally, continuously monitoring prior art, and securing broad yet defensible claims are critical.
Sources:
- Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) patent database, KR20140132778.
- WIPO PatentScope database.
- South Korea Patent Law and Examination Guidelines.
- Global patent analytics reports on pharmaceutical patents.
- Industry reports on South Korea’s pharmaceutical patent landscape.
[Note: Specific filing and issue dates, assignee details, and claim language can be retrieved from official patent documents for more precise analysis.]
