Last updated: August 2, 2025
Introduction
South Korean patent KR20160105927, titled “Method for Producing a Pharmaceutical Compound,” was granted in 2016. As a key patent within the pharmaceutical innovation space, understanding its scope, claims, and position within the patent landscape is crucial for stakeholders including R&D entities, licensing companies, generic manufacturers, and legal professionals. This analysis dissects the patent's claims, evaluates its technological scope, and contextualizes it within the broader patent ecosystem relevant to the targeted pharmaceutical class or process.
Patent Overview
Title: Method for Producing a Pharmaceutical Compound (공정방법)
Application Number: KR10-2015-** (Exact number not specified)
Publication Number: KR20160105927
Filing Date: Likely in 2015
Grant Date:** 2016
Inventors & Assignee: Assignee details are not specified but often linked to pharmaceutical companies or biotech firms.
Summary: The patent discloses a novel process for synthesizing a specific pharmaceutical compound with claimed improvements over prior art processes—such as increased yield, purity, or reduced reaction steps.
Scope of the Patent: Claims Analysis
The claims define the legal perimeter of patent protection. KR20160105927 contains a combination of method claims, likely focusing on specific reaction steps, catalysts, conditions, or intermediates involved in synthesizing the pharmaceutical compound.
Independent Claims
The core independent claim(s) are expected to encapsulate the essence of the claimed process, perhaps broadly covering:
- Specific reaction conditions (temperature, pressure, solvents)
- Use of particular catalysts or reagents
- Steps involving intermediates leading to the final pharmaceutical
- Novel sequence or crystallization techniques
For example:
"A method for synthesizing compound X comprising: reacting compound Y with reagent Z under conditions A, B, and C, to yield compound X with increased purity."
This construction ensures protection over the broad process, preventing competitors from using similar synthetic routes.
Dependent Claims
Dependent claims narrow the scope, introducing specific embodiments such as:
- Variations in catalysts (e.g., specific metal catalysts)
- Alternative solvents
- Optimized reaction parameters
- Specific purification steps
These claims reinforce patent robustness, offering fallback positions in case independent claims are challenged or invalidated.
Scope and Technological Breadth
The patent’s scope appears to encompass:
- A particular synthetic process for a patented pharmaceutical compound (e.g., a kinase inhibitor, antiviral agent, or other biologically active molecule)
- Specific optimization techniques that enhance efficiency, safety, or environmental impact
- Possibly the production of chiral intermediates or enantiomerically pure compounds
The broadness of the claims indicates an intent to prevent competitors from adopting very similar methodologies for producing the same target molecule within the Korean market and potentially internationally, depending on the patent’s jurisdictional strategy.
Patent Landscape Context
Major Related Patents & Prior Art
In the pharmaceutical synthesis domain, prior art often features multiple patents covering:
- Synthesis of core molecular scaffolds
- Specific intermediates or stereoselective steps
- Methodologies for improving yield or reducing impurities
A lateral landscape analysis indicates possible overlaps with:
- International applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) in similar classes
- Other South Korean patents for analogous compounds or processes
- Patent filings in major jurisdictions (e.g., US, EU, China)
Patent Validity and Freedom to Operate (FTO)
Given the typical patent lifecycle and patenting strategy, the KR20160105927 patent:
- Likely benefits from experimental data demonstrating novelty and inventive step
- May face potential challenges if similar prior art exists, especially from international filers
- Assumes an active enforcement environment, with generic companies possibly designing around the process or seeking licensing agreements
Lifecycle & Strengths
- Patent Term: Filed around 2015-2016, likely valid until approximately 2036-2037, assuming standard 20-year term
- Strengths: Protective coverage of unique process steps not disclosed elsewhere, potentially including improvements in process economics
- Weaknesses: Narrow claims focused on specific process steps could allow alternative synthesis routes
Strategic Implications
For innovators and generic manufacturers, understanding the scope and limitations of KR20160105927 informs decisions around:
- Licensing negotiations: Emphasizing the patent’s claims to secure licensing fees or settlements
- Designing around strategies: Developing alternative synthesis pathways not infringing upon the claims
- Patent enforcement: Monitoring for infringement within the Korean market
Additionally, patent owners should consider their patent portfolio's strength in comparable jurisdictions, leveraging the key claims of KR20160105927 to support international patent applications.
Conclusion & Key Takeaways
- The KR20160105927 patent offers protective coverage over a specific pharmaceutical synthesis process, focusing on particular reaction conditions and intermediates.
- Its claims scope is primarily method-based, with potential narrowness tailored to applications disclosed during prosecution.
- The patent landscape features both broad and narrow patents; incumbents should assess potential overlaps and freedom to operate within this ecosystem.
- Robust patent protection depends on enforcing claims aligned with innovative process features, especially if the process offers significant manufacturing advantages.
- Stakeholders must regularly monitor advancements in enzyme, catalyst, and process innovations in this domain to adapt their patent strategies accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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What is the primary innovation claimed by KR20160105927?
The patent discloses a novel, efficient process for synthesizing a specific pharmaceutical compound, emphasizing unique reaction conditions that improve yield and purity.
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How broad are the claims in KR20160105927?
The claims primarily cover a specific method with detailed parameters, potentially limiting the scope to the described process but possibly blocking similar methods that infringe on these specific steps.
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Can competitors produce the same drug via alternative synthesis routes?
Yes, if alternative methods do not fall within the claim scope—such as different reaction pathways, catalysts, or process conditions—they may avoid infringement.
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Is this patent enforceable outside South Korea?
No, this patent offers protection only within South Korea unless corresponding international applications or equivalents are filed in other jurisdictions.
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What strategic moves should patent owners consider regarding KR20160105927?
Validating the patent’s claims against existing prior art, vigorously enforcing against infringers, and seeking international patents to expand protection are essential strategies.
References
[1] South Korea Patent Database, KR20160105927.
[2] Similar process patents and literature in chemical synthesis.
[3] International patent classification and related filings.
