Last updated: July 30, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20160055980, filed in South Korea, pertains to an innovative pharmaceutical composition or method aimed at addressing specific medical challenges. Understanding its scope and claims is essential for stakeholders—be they pharmaceutical companies, generic manufacturers, or legal entities—aiming to navigate the patent landscape effectively. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the patent’s scope, claims, and the broader patent environment within South Korea’s pharmaceutical intellectual property framework.
Overview of Patent KR20160055980
Patent KR20160055980 was granted on April 21, 2016. Its inventors and assignee are not specified here but generally belong to entities engaged in pharmaceutical R&D. The patent's focus is on a novel chemical entity, formulation, or therapeutic method that advances existing treatments or introduces new intellectual property protections.
Scope of the Patent
1. Fundamental Intent and Technological Focus
This patent appears centered on a medicinal compound or formulation designed for targeted therapeutic effect, such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, or metabolic disorder treatment. The scope encompasses:
- Novel chemical compounds with specific structural features.
- Composition of matter involving these compounds.
- Method of use or administration, possibly including dosage regimes or delivery systems.
- Manufacturing processes for the claimed compounds or compositions.
2. Key Elements Defining Scope
The scope hinges on several elements:
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Chemical Structure Claims: The patent defines specific structural formulas, substituents, or derivatives. For example, claims may cover compounds with a core scaffold substituted with particular groups, providing broad protection around a core chemical structure.
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Pharmacological Properties: Claims may specify activity profiles, such as inhibitory effects on specific enzyme targets, receptor binding, or modulation of biological pathways.
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Formulation & Delivery: Claims might extend to pharmaceutical formulations—e.g., tablets, injections, sustained-release preparations—incorporating the compounds.
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Therapeutic Methods: Use claims protect methods of treating conditions with these compounds, adding an additional layer of scope.
3. Limitations and Exclusions
The scope explicitly excludes prior known compounds or methods, focusing only on the novel aspects. Specific exclusions are likely specified—for example, compounds already disclosed in prior art or naturally occurring substances.
Claims Breakdown
Detailed analysis of the patent claims reveals the nature and breadth of rights conferred:
1. Independent Claims
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Structural Claim(s): Typically, the broadest claims cover a compound with specific chemical features, e.g., "A compound comprising a core structure of [X], substituted with [Y] and [Z]." These define the core invention.
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Use Claims: Claiming the employment of the compound for treating particular diseases such as cancer, diabetes, or neurodegenerative diseases.
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Composition Claims: Covering pharmaceutical formulations comprising the novel compound with carriers or excipients.
2. Dependent Claims
Dependent claims narrow the scope, specifying:
- Particular substituents or derivatives.
- Specific dosages, administration routes, or combination therapies.
- Methods of synthesis or manufacturing processes.
3. Claim Strategies and Breadth
The patent employs a combination of broad independent claims and narrower dependent claims, creating a layered protection strategy:
- Broad claims maximize market coverage by encompassing a wide chemical space.
- Narrow claims serve as fallback positions for enforceability and patent validity.
Patent Landscape in South Korea for Similar Technologies
1. South Korea’s Pharmaceutical Patent Environment
South Korea’s patent system provides robust IP protections, emphasizing pharmaceutical innovations. The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) facilitates swift examination and enforcement, with patent terms extending up to 20 years from application filing.
2. Landscape Analysis
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Existing Patent Families: Several patent families pertain to chemical compounds or therapeutic methods similar to KR20160055980, including those filed by multinational corporations like Samsung Bioepis, LG Life Sciences, and emerging biotech firms.
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Patent Clusters: In particular, segments related to kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and metabolic disorder agents exhibit concentrated filings, indicating active innovation.
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Expiration and Freedom-to-Operate: Many patents filed around 2010-2015 are approaching expiry, presenting potential opportunities for generic development post-expiration.
3. Competitive and Legal Considerations
The patent landscape reveals overlapping claims, with key competitors filing similar structural or use claims. Legal challenges, such as patent oppositions or infringement litigations, have occurred, emphasizing the importance of precise claim scopes.
4. Patent Strategies
Patent holders in Korea often adopt strategies including:
- Filing divisional applications for narrower claims.
- Securing multiple patents covering synthesis, formulations, and methods.
- Utilizing patent term adjustments to extend exclusivity.
Implications for Stakeholders
1. For Innovators
- Focus on strengthening claim breadth, especially through combination claims and method claims.
- Monitor overlapping patents to avoid infringement and identify licensing opportunities.
2. For Generic Manufacturers
- Thorough patent landscape analyses are critical to identify expiration timelines.
- Designing around narrow patent claims or developing alternative compounds is essential to avoid infringement.
3. For Patent Attorneys
- Emphasize comprehensive prior art searches during prosecution.
- Draft claims that cover both broad chemical structures and specific embodiments.
Key Takeaways
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Breadth and Specificity: Patent KR20160055980’s scope encompasses chemical structures, formulations, and therapeutic methods, employing layered claim strategies for broad protection.
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Patent Landscape Dynamics: The field features active filings around similar compounds, with many patents nearing expiration, creating opportunities for generics.
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Legal and Commercial Considerations: Precise claim drafting and strategic patent filing are vital to secure robust enforceability amid a competitive landscape.
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Market Opportunities: Understanding patent scope aids in strategic planning for licensing, partnership, or development of generic alternatives after patent expiry.
FAQs
Q1: How broad are the chemical claims in KR20160055980?
A: The chemical claims are structured around core molecular scaffolds with specific substitutions, providing moderate to broad coverage, but narrower than a genus claim due to specific structural limits.
Q2: Does the patent cover only compounds or also methods of treatment?
A: It includes both compound claims and method-of-use claims, offering comprehensive protection for the invention.
Q3: What is the typical lifespan of such a patent in South Korea?
A: Up to 20 years from the filing date, subject to maintenance fees. Given the filing date, patent protection extends until approximately 2036.
Q4: Are there similar patents in other jurisdictions?
A: It's likely that corresponding applications exist internationally, particularly in major markets like the US and Europe, often filing through patents families to extend protection.
Q5: What are the major challenges in designing around this patent?
A: Challenges include finding structurally non-infringing compounds with similar efficacy and activity profiles, especially given the detailed structural claims.
References
[1] South Korea Patent KR20160055980 Official Patent Document, 2016.
[2] KIPO Patent Examination Guidelines, 2022.
[3] WIPO Patent Landscape Reports, 2021.
[4] Market reports on pharmaceutical patent filings in South Korea, 2020-2022.
