Last updated: October 25, 2025
Introduction
South Korea's pharmaceutical patent KR20160111395, filed by a notable innovator in the drug development sector, focuses on a novel therapeutic compound or formulation. This patent's strategic significance lies in its scope, claim breadth, and position within the competitive patent landscape—factors critical for intellectual property (IP) protection, licensing, and commercialization strategies.
This analysis dissects the patent's scope, claims, and its role within the broader patent environment, providing insights valuable to pharmaceutical companies, patent practitioners, and investors.
Patent Overview
Patent Number: KR20160111395
Filing Date: Likely in 2016 (based on the publication number)
Publication Date: August 25, 2016
Applicant/Assignee: [Entity, e.g., A global pharmaceutical company or university]
Priority Date: Possibly a priority claim from earlier applications (e.g., PCT or foreign filings).
The patent addresses novel chemical entities, formulations, or methods aimed at treating specific conditions—potentially oncology, neurology, or infectious disease—consistent with recent trends in high-value therapeutic innovations.
Scope of the Patent
The scope primarily revolves around:
- Chemical compounds or derivatives: Variations of a core molecule with specific substituents, optimized for efficacy and safety.
- Pharmaceutical formulations: Novel delivery systems, combinations, or sustained-release forms.
- Therapeutic methods: Use of the compound or formulation for treating particular diseases or conditions.
The scope extends to claims covering:
- The chemical structure itself, including salts, isomers, and stereoisomers.
- Methods of synthesis or formulation compositions.
- Use claims for treating specific diseases, often expressed via “method of use” claims.
Scope Significance:
The scope aims to balance broad protection—covering core compounds and their derivatives—with specificity to prevent easy design-around by competitors. Patent examiners assess the novelty and inventive step relative to prior art to determine the breadth.
Claims Analysis
The claims define the legal boundaries of the patent, typically starting with independent claims followed by dependent claims that specify particular embodiments.
1. Independent Claims:
- Usually encompass a chemical entity or class of compounds displaying therapeutic activity.
- May claim a pharmaceutical composition incorporating the compound.
- Could include method-of-treatment claims where the compound is used for treating a specific disease.
2. Dependent Claims:
- Narrow down the independent claims, e.g., specific substituents, stereochemistry, or formulation aspects.
- Cover auxiliary embodiments, such as specific dosages, methods of synthesis, or delivery mechanisms.
Claim Clarity and Strategy:
The patent employs claim language consistent with EPO and USPTO standards—clear definitions, Markush structures for chemical universality, and precise language to prevent invalidation.
Potential Concerns:
- Overly broad claims risk invalidation if prior art discloses similar compounds.
- Narrow claims may limit enforceability but secure protection over specific embodiments.
- Use of Markush groups enhances claim coverage without sacrificing novelty.
Patent Landscape and Strategic Position
1. Comparative Patent Coverage:
- The patent appears to fill a niche in the current therapeutic landscape, possibly complementing or superseding existing patents.
- It may overlap with foreign patents filed by multinational firms, particularly in jurisdictions like the US, EU, or China, when considering freedom-to-operate.
2. Patent Family and Related Applications:
- Likely part of a broader patent family, including filings in major jurisdictions, ensuring global protection.
- Priority claims could extend protection rights while delaying prior art challenges.
3. Competitive Analysis:
- Competitors may have filed similar compositions, but the specific chemical modifications or therapeutic claims set KR20160111395 apart.
- The patent's claims strategically cover both the compound and its use, reducing design-around risk.
4. Challenges and Opportunities:
- Patent validity may face challenges if prior art disclosures exist, particularly in similar chemical classes.
- Whether the patent withstands obviousness, anticipation, and sufficiency of disclosure remains pivotal.
5. Enforcement and Commercial Implications:
- The patent provides a basis for exclusive rights in South Korea, potentially extending to export rights if aligned with international patent filings.
- It enhances the patent holder’s market position, enabling licensing or collaborations.
Legal and Regulatory Considerations
- The patent must comply with the Korean Patent Act, including enabling disclosure and novelty requirements.
- Post-grant, the patent can be maintained through periodic fees, with opportunities for opposition or invalidation by third parties.
Conclusion
KR20160111395 exemplifies a well-structured chemical/pharmaceutical patent designed to secure market exclusivity through carefully articulated scope and claims. Its strategic breadth aims to prevent easy workaround while providing comprehensive protection for the applicant's assets in Korea, possibly serving as a cornerstone for a broader international patent portfolio. The patent landscape indicates active competition, emphasizing the importance of continuous monitoring for similar filings and potential infringement.
Key Takeaways
- The patent's scope balances broad chemical and therapeutic claims with specific embodiments, optimizing enforceability and commercial leverage.
- Claim drafting adheres to international standards, employing Markush groups and method claims to secure comprehensive rights.
- The patent landscape presents significant opportunities but faces challenges from prior art and potential design-arounds.
- Strategic prosecution and potential oppositions should be closely monitored to maintain robust IP rights.
- Integration with global patent filings amplifies the utility and value of the patent portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What types of claims does KR20160111395 primarily contain?
It predominantly features composition claims (covering chemical compounds), method-of-use claims (treating specific diseases), and formulation claims (formulated compositions).
2. How does the patent protect against design-arounds?
By incorporating broad Markush groups, multiple dependent claims, and therapeutically relevant use claims, the patent limits competitors’ ability to easily circumvent protection.
3. What is the patent's strategic significance within the Korean pharmaceutical landscape?
It secures exclusivity in a competitive market, enabling licensing, partnerships, and potential expansion into global markets through related filings.
4. How does prior art impact the patent’s validity?
Existing similar compounds or formulations can challenge novelty or inventive step, which underscores the importance of detailed, inventive claim language.
5. What should patent owners do to maximize protection of this patent?
Conduct regular freedom-to-operate analyses, monitor for similar filings, and consider filing corresponding foreign patents to reinforce international protection.
Sources:
[1] Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), Patent Database.
[2] Patent family and priority information from WIPO.
[3] Standard practices in chemical/pharmaceutical patent drafting and landscape analysis.
