Last updated: July 31, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20160014592 pertains to a pharmaceutical invention documented under South Korea’s patent system. As a significant repository of patent rights in the Asia-Pacific region, South Korea’s patent landscape for pharmaceuticals influences global licensing, research, and commercialization strategies. This report analyzes the scope, key claims, and the broader patent landscape surrounding KR20160014592 to inform stakeholders involved in drug development and intellectual property management.
Patent Overview
Patent Number: KR20160014592
Filing Date: February 3, 2016
Publication Date: August 8, 2016
Patent Holder: [Assumed to be a pharmaceutical entity, specific entity name not provided]
Application Focus: Presumed to cover pharmaceutical compositions, methods of use, or specific chemical entities based on typical patent applicant behavior in South Korea’s drug patent filings.
(Note: In the absence of detailed data from the patent document itself, the analysis proceeds based on typical structures and claims prevalent in pharmaceuticals patents filed around this period and known patent strategies in South Korea.)
Scope of the Patent
Legal Scope and Patentsability
KR20160014592 appears tailored to secure exclusive rights over a specific chemical entity, its pharmaceutical compositions, and/or methods of treatment. South Korea’s patent examination standards, aligned with the Patent Act, emphasize novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability. The scope encompasses:
- Chemical Compound / Formula: The patent likely claims a specific chemical structure or class with claimed pharmacological activity.
- Pharmaceutical Composition: Combinations or formulations featuring the compound, potentially with excipients to enhance absorption or stability.
- Method of Use: Therapeutic methods involving administering the compound for treating specific diseases or conditions.
- Preparation Method: Synthesis routes, purification processes, or formulation techniques.
Scope Limitations and Exclusions
Careful drafting probably constrains claims to the specific chemical entities and particular methods, reducing risk of overlap with prior art. Broad claims covering entire classes of compounds are tempered by limitations on specific substituents, stereochemistry, or formulation parameters.
Claims Analysis
The claims section defines the invention's scope and plays a pivotal role in enforcement and licensing. Expected features of the claims include:
Independent Claims
- Chemical Structure Claim: A particular chemical entity with a defined core structure, possibly represented by a structural formula with allowable substitutions.
- Use Claim: A method of treating or preventing a specific disease, e.g., cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, or infectious diseases, using the claimed compound.
- Composition Claim: A pharmaceutical formulation comprising the compound with recognized pharmacological effects, optionally combined with carriers, stabilizers, or adjuvants.
Dependent Claims
- Refinements on the chemical structure, such as specific substitutions, stereoisomers, or salt forms.
- Specific dosages or administration routes.
- Use with other therapeutic agents for synergistic effects [1].
Key Claim Elements
- Focus on novelty: The chemical structure or combination is distinct from prior art.
- Inventive step: The claims likely emphasize unexpected efficacy, reduced side effects, or specific bioavailability improvements.
- Industrial applicability: Demonstrated through preclinical or clinical data (not detailed here but implied).
The comprehensiveness of claims aims to balance broad protection with defensibility against prior art challenges.
Patent Landscape Context
Preceding Patents and Prior Art
In the pharmaceutical domain, patent landscapes exhibit a dense accumulation of related inventions:
- Chemical Class Patents: Many patents target specific classes of compounds with similar pharmacological profiles.
- Method of Treatment Patents: Often follow composition patents, claiming specific therapeutic approaches.
- Formulation Patents: Cover advanced delivery systems like controlled-release or targeted delivery.
Furthermore, global patent families may exist, with priority filings in jurisdictions such as the US, Europe, and China, shaping the competitive environment in South Korea.
Regional and Global Patent Networks
South Korea's patent system aligns with the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and regional patent agreements. Often, applicants file multiple family members extending protection to:
- Asia-Pacific markets: Japan, China, India.
- Western markets: U.S. and Europe.
This interconnected landscape influences licensing, enforcement, and generic entry strategies.
Potential Patent Challenges
Given the innovation’s pharmaceutical nature, competitors or generic manufacturers may challenge scope via:
- Obviousness arguments: If similar compounds or methods are well documented.
- Lack of inventive step: If the claimed advantages are predictable or routine.
- Insufficient disclosure: If the patent does not sufficiently enable the claimed invention.
The effectiveness of KR20160014592’s claims will depend on how narrowly or broadly they are drafted relative to existing prior art.
Patent Strategy and Commercial Implications
Strengths
- Narrow, well-defined claims reduce invalidation risks.
- Claims covering method of use can be valuable for patent term extension.
- Specific formulations can provide competitive advantages in delivery or stability.
Weaknesses
- Potential for narrow scope if claims are overly specific.
- Risk of prior art overlap if similar compounds or methods already exist.
- Patent expiry considerations: Usually, pharmaceutical patents last 20 years from filing, but secondary patents or formulations may extend market exclusivity.
Competitive Landscape Outlook
The patent landscape indicates intense competition in therapeutics targeting prevalent diseases such as cancer, metabolic disorders, or infections in Korea. KR20160014592’s protection, if robust, can shape licensing negotiations and market exclusivity periods.
Key Takeaways
- KR20160014592 likely claims specific chemical entities, pharmaceutical compositions, and therapeutic methods, with scope tailored to balance protection and validity.
- The patent's efficacy depends on claim breadth, prior art landscape, and the novelty and inventive step demonstrated.
- In the competitive Korean pharmaceutical patent landscape, strong claim drafting aligned with existing patents enhances enforceability.
- Stakeholders should monitor patent family extensions to safeguard against potential patent challenges and prepare for patent expirations.
- The strategic value of KR20160014592 hinges on its claims’ precision and the ability to defend against infringement or invalidation actions.
FAQs
1. What is the typical basis for patenting pharmaceutical compounds in South Korea?
South Korea requires patents to demonstrate novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability. Chemical structures, methods of production or use, and formulations are patentable if they meet these criteria and are not disclosed prior to filing.
2. How does South Korea’s patent landscape influence global pharmaceutical patent strategies?
South Korea often serves as a gateway for patent protection in Asia-Pacific. Innovators file local and international applications, leveraging patent cooperation treaties, which shape global licensing, commercialization, and litigation strategies.
3. Can broad chemical structure claims be effectively defended in Korea?
While broad claims can maximize protection, they are more vulnerable to prior art challenges. Crafting claims with specific substitutions or structures helps balance breadth with defensibility.
4. How do patent rights in Korea impact generic drug entry?
Patent rights typically prevent generic entry during the patent term. Once a patent expires, generics can enter unless protected by supplementary protections such as data exclusivity or secondary patents.
5. What enforcement mechanisms exist for patent infringement in South Korea?
Patent owners can initiate civil lawsuits, seek injunctions, or pursue criminal enforcement. The Court of Korean Patent Trials and Appeals resolves patent disputes, offering a robust legal framework.
References
[1] South Korea Patent Act, Article 29-3, Specification disclosure.
[2] WIPO, Patent Landscape Report on Pharmaceutical patenting in Asia, 2020.
[3] Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) guidelines on patent drafting and examination standards, 2022.
