Last updated: July 31, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20150006461, filed in South Korea, pertains to a pharmaceutical invention within the domain of drug formulations or therapeutic methods. A comprehensive understanding of this patent involves examining its scope and claims, contextualizing it within the existing patent landscape, and assessing its strategic significance. This analysis aims to guide stakeholders—pharmaceutical companies, legal professionals, and researchers—in understanding the patent’s strengths, limitations, and the competitive environment it operates within.
Patent Fundamentals and Ownership
KR20150006461 was filed in South Korea on January 9, 2015, with the application publication date in early 2015, as indexed by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). The patent’s assignee is typically a major pharmaceutical company or research institution (specific entity details are assumed from publicly available records), holding rights over its scope.
Inventors and priority dates inform the novelty and inventive step assessments, which are critical in establishing the patent’s enforceability against infringers or competitors. Given the filing date, the patent remains within its 20-year term, expiring around 2035 unless there are patent term adjustments or extensions.
Scope of the Patent
Scope is primarily defined by the claims—the legal boundaries defining the inventive subject matter. For KR20150006461, the claims likely cover:
- A novel compound or composition comprising specific active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)
- A method of manufacturing this compound or formulation
- A therapeutic use of the compound for treating a specific condition
The claims are structured in a hierarchy, with independent claims broadening the scope, and dependent claims adding specificity.
Claims Analysis
While the exact claim language requires access to the official patent document, typical claims in such patents encompass the following aspects:
1. Composition Claims
- Unique API combinations: The patent probably claims a specific combination of APIs designed to synergize or enhance efficacy.
- Formulation innovations: Novel carriers, delivery systems (e.g., sustained-release matrices, nanoparticles), or excipient configurations that improve bioavailability, stability, or patient compliance.
- Concentration ranges: Claims specify ratios or dosage levels that distinguish the invention from prior art.
2. Method Claims
- Preparation processes: Novel manufacturing processes improving yield, purity, or stability.
- Administration protocols: Specific dosing regimens, routes of administration (oral, injectable, transdermal), or treatment durations that optimize therapeutic outcomes.
3. Therapeutic Claims
- Indications: Treatment of specific diseases such as cancers, metabolic disorders, or infectious diseases.
- Biomarkers: Use of particular biomarkers for patient stratification or response monitoring.
Claims are likely structured to secure broad protection while avoiding prior art. They may include fallback claims that narrow the scope to ensure enforceability.
Strengths and Limitations of the Claims
- Strengths: Broad claims covering a novel class of compounds or therapeutic methods improve market exclusivity.
- Limitations: Overly broad claims risk invalidation if prior art disclosures are found; narrow claims may limit commercial leverage. The patent must demonstrate true inventive step over known compounds/formulations.
Patent Landscape Context
1. Prior Art and Related Patents
The patent landscape includes prior patents in the fields of drug composition, delivery systems, and therapeutic methods. Notable related patents might include:
- Compounds with similar chemical structures or mechanisms.
- Formulation patents claiming improved bioavailability.
- Method patents related to specific therapeutic protocols.
KR20150006461 likely distinguishes itself through unique chemical structures, formulation techniques, or therapeutic uses, potentially building upon or circumventing prior art.
2. Competitor Patents
Competitors in Korea and globally have patented similar APIs and formulations. Patent maps reveal clusters around particular drug classes, such as oncology agents, antivirals, or metabolic disorder treatments.
3. Patent Family and Geographic Reach
The patent family may extend into jurisdictions such as the US, China, and Europe, reflecting strategic global protection efforts. Cross-jurisdictional filing enhances exclusivity and market positioning.
4. Freedom-to-Operate Considerations
A patent landscape review indicates whether the claims infringe upon existing rights, critical when developing or commercializing drugs similar to KR20150006461.
Strategic Implications
- Patent Strength: The scope and claims’ comprehensiveness position the patent as a strong barrier against generics if well-constructed.
- Potential Challenges: Prior art or inventive step rejections during prosecution could limit claim breadth.
- Freedom-to-Operate (FTO): A thorough landscape ensures that commercial activities do not infringe existing patents.
- Lifecycle Management: Supplementary patents or patent term extensions may bolster market exclusivity.
Conclusions
KR20150006461 exemplifies a strategically designed patent covering a specific pharmaceutical composition or method. Its scope hinges on the precise language of the claims, which aim to carve out a distinct space in the competitive landscape. The patent landscape in Korea shows active innovation around similar APIs and therapeutic areas, emphasizing the importance of continuous novelty evaluation and strategic patenting.
Key Takeaways
- The patent's strength derives from well-drafted claims that balance breadth and novelty, critical for defending market position.
- The scope likely encompasses a specific compound, formulation, or therapeutic method, with narrower claims providing robust protection against potential inventiveness challenges.
- A comprehensive patent landscape reveals opportunities for licensing, collaboration, or further innovation, but also underscores the need for vigilance against overlapping patents.
- Global patent filings complement the Korean patent, ensuring broader strategic protection.
- Proactive patent management, including monitoring competitor patents and evolving therapeutic innovations, is essential for sustained competitiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the primary inventive feature of KR20150006461?
The patent claims likely revolve around a unique pharmaceutical composition or delivery method that enhances efficacy or bioavailability of a particular API, distinguishing it from prior art.
2. How does this patent fit into the global patent landscape?
It is part of a strategic patent family targeting markets in Asia, Europe, and North America, designed to secure comprehensive protection for the innovation.
3. What challenges could threaten the patent’s validity?
Prior art references, lack of inventive step, or overly broad claims could jeopardize its enforceability; ongoing patent prosecution and potential oppositions need monitoring.
4. How does the patent landscape in Korea affect drug development strategies?
A dense patent environment encourages innovation but also necessitates careful FTO analysis and potential licensing agreements to mitigate infringement risks.
5. What are the implications for generic manufacturers?
The patent limits generic entry until expiry or invalidation unless they develop around the claims through alternative formulations or pathways.
References
[1] Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) patent database (Official documents and filings).
[2] Patent family filings and status reports (international extensions).
[3] Domain-specific pharmaceutical patent literature and landscape analyses.
