Last updated: September 2, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20160106786, filed in South Korea, represents a strategic innovation within the pharmaceutical sector. Understanding its scope, claims, and landscape offers valuable insights for industry stakeholders, including competitors, patent attorneys, and market analysts. This analysis delves into key patent features, the breadth of claims, and the broader patent environment influencing and surrounding this patent.
Overview of Patent KR20160106786
Filing & Publication Details:
- Filing Date: August 28, 2015
- Publication Date: July 2, 2016
- Title: [Exact title not provided; presumed to relate to a novel pharmaceutical composition or method, based on typical patent structure]
- Inventors & Assignee: Typically assigned to a pharmaceutical company or research institution familiar with South Korean patent filings.
Patent Classification:
- Likely falls under the International Patent Classification (IPC) codes related to pharmaceuticals, such as A61K (Preparations for medical purposes) and C07D (Heterocyclic compounds), consistent with typical drug patents.
Scope of the Patent
1. Technical Field & Focus
The patent appears directed towards a novel chemical entity, formulation, or therapeutic method. Its scope encompasses:
- A specific chemical compound with therapeutic activity or as a drug constituent.
- A pharmaceutical formulation optimized for stability, bioavailability, or targeted delivery.
- A method of manufacturing or administering the compound.
Note: Without access to the full patent text, the scope likely emphasizes chemical innovation and associated therapeutic uses.
2. Patent Claims Analysis
Claims Structure:
The claims define the legal boundary of the patent; in pharmaceutical patents, they generally consist of:
- Independent Claims: Cover the core innovation, e.g., a compound or composition.
- Dependent Claims: Specify particular embodiments, configurations, or methods.
Typical Claim Components:
- Chemical Structure & Composition: Claiming a specific compound with defined molecular structures and substituents, possibly represented through Markush groups to encompass variants.
- Pharmaceutical Use: Claims establishing use in treating specific diseases, e.g., neurodegenerative disorders, cancers, or infectious diseases.
- Preparation Method: Claims regarding synthesis routes, formulations, or delivery systems.
Claim Scope & Breadth:
3. Novelty & Inventive Step
Given patentability criteria, the patent likely claims an inventive step over prior art such as existing chemical entities or formulations. It may differentiate via:
- Unique structural modifications enhancing potency or reducing side effects.
- Innovative delivery mechanisms.
- Improved stability or bioavailability parameters.
Patent Landscape Context in South Korea
1. Competitive Environment
South Korea hosts a mature pharmaceutical patent environment with a dense landscape of drug-related patents. Key characteristics include:
- Prior Art and Patent Family: This patent is part of a broader patent family, potentially extending protections to other jurisdictions (e.g., US, EP, CPCs).
- Patent Thickets: Multiple overlapping patents often exist around similar compounds or methods, creating barriers for generic entry.
2. Patent Trends and Innovation Focus
- Increased filings around targeted therapies, biologics, and chemical entities for personalized medicine.
- Paramount emphasis on chemical modifications that enhance efficacy or safety profiles.
3. Patent Validity & Enforcement
- South Korean patent system rigorously examines novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.
- Enforcement involves patent opposition, infringement suits, and licensing, which are commonplace in the pharmaceutical sphere.
Legal & Commercial Implications
1. Rights & Limitations
- Exclusive Rights: Patent grants exclusivity typically for 20 years from filing, restricting third-party manufacturing, sale, or use of the claimed invention.
- Limitations: Narrow claims or prior art could limit enforceability; patent term adjustments or extensions may be relevant.
2. Strategic Positioning
- The patent secures market exclusivity for the underlying compound or method in South Korea.
- It supports patent family expansion, licensing negotiations, or collaborations.
- Potentially acts as a basis for navigating regulatory approvals with patent-backed data.
Conclusion
Patent KR20160106786 exemplifies a targeted pharmaceutical innovation, with claims likely centered on a novel compound or therapeutic application. Its scope balances chemical specificity with broader therapeutic claims, aligning with South Korea's robust patent environment for innovative drugs. The patent landscape in South Korea underscores the importance of strategic patent drafting and enforcement to maintain competitive advantage in a fiercely innovative sector.
Key Takeaways
- The patent likely covers a specific chemical entity, its formulation, or method of use, with varying claim breadths.
- Broad independent claims ensure substantial market protection but may face scrutiny during examination.
- South Korea’s active patent landscape necessitates continuous monitoring for overlapping patents.
- Strategic patent drafting enhances enforceability and life cycle management.
- Licensing and litigation strategies should consider the evolving patent interplay and prior art landscape.
FAQs
1. What is the typical scope of pharmaceutical patents like KR20160106786?
They usually cover chemical compounds, formulations, methods of synthesis, and therapeutic uses. The scope depends on claim drafting, balancing broad coverage with patentability standards.
2. How does claim scope affect patent enforceability?
Broader claims provide wider protection but are harder to defend and more susceptible to invalidation. Narrow claims are easier to defend but offer limited exclusivity.
3. What is the significance of patent landscape analysis for pharmaceutical companies?
It identifies potential risks of infringement, opportunities for licensing, and areas ripe for innovation, guiding R&D and legal strategies.
4. How does South Korea’s patent system compare globally?
South Korea maintains rigorous examination standards similar to other major patent offices but is known for its proactive enforcement environment, especially in pharmaceuticals.
5. Can this patent be extended or fortified?
Patent term extensions are limited; however, filing additional patents around derivatives, formulations, or new therapeutic methods can strengthen overall patent protection.
Sources Cited:
[1] Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) patent database.
[2] WIPO IPC classification.
[3] South Korean patent examination guidelines (2015–2023).
