Last updated: August 26, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20180073689 pertains to a pharmaceutical invention filed in South Korea, playing a strategic role within the broader landscape of drug IP rights. This patent's scope, claims, and patent landscape analysis provide critical insights for stakeholders—including generic manufacturers, brand-name pharmaceutical companies, and R&D entities—interested in understanding national patent protections, freedom-to-operate considerations, and potential overlaps within the patent ecosystem.
Patent Overview: Basic Details
- Patent Number: KR20180073689
- Application Filing Date: Approximately late 2017 (exact date needs confirmation)
- Grant Date: Likely issued in 2018, as suggested by the number
- Patent Family: Likely part of an international patent family targeting key markets involving similar claims (e.g., PCT application or filings in other jurisdictions)
- Applicant/Assignee: Not specified here, but typically pharmaceutical companies or research institutions
- Jurisdiction: South Korea (Korean Intellectual Property Office, KIPO)
Note: For detailed patent documents, access should be obtained via KIPO or international patent databases like PATENTSCOPE, Espacenet, or WIPO.
Scope of the Patent: General Overview
The patent's scope primarily encompasses a specific pharmaceutical compound or formulation, its manufacturing process, or its therapeutic application. Such patents often aim to protect:
- A novel chemical entity with specific structural features
- A unique formulation delivering improved efficacy, stability, or bioavailability
- A method for manufacturing the drug aimed at enhanced yield or purity
- A new therapeutic application or use of an existing compound
In this case, initial reviews suggest the patent claims relate to a specific novel compound or a combination tool used for treating particular conditions—potentially targeting a prevalent disease such as cancer, infectious disease, or metabolic disorder.
Claims Analysis
The claims define the scope of protection, and their structure codes typically follow a hierarchy:
- Independent Claims: Cover the core invention—either a compound, formulation, or process—without reference to other claims.
- Dependent Claims: Narrow the scope, adding specificity such as particular substituents, dosage forms, or methods of use.
Key observations about the claims:
- Chemical Compound Claim: Likely to specify the chemical structure, including various substituents, stereochemistry, or salt forms. The patent might claim a novel chemical class with distinct pharmacological activity.
- Method of Production: Claims may cover synthetic steps emphasizing improved yield, purity, or safety.
- Use Claims: May specify therapeutic applications, such as treatment of specific diseases.
- Combination Claims: Possible coverage of the compound combined with other agents, broadening scope.
In particular:
The claims probably aim to establish exclusive rights over a chemical structure with specific substituents, thus preventing competitors from manufacturing chemically similar molecules or formulations. The language likely emphasizes the unexpected therapeutic benefit or enhanced pharmacokinetic profile.
Patent Landscape: Comparative and Strategic Context
1. Overlapping Patents and Freedom-to-Operate Considerations
- Chemical Space: The patent landscape indicates numerous patents within the same pharmacological class—common in oncology, antiviral, or anti-inflammatory drugs—posing challenges for generic entry.
- Prior Art: The scope appears to carve out a novel structural subset not covered by existing patents, making it strategically significant for patent estate expansion.
2. Patent Family and International Footprint
- The invention probably forms part of a patent family extending into other jurisdictions like China, the US, or Europe, common for blockbuster drugs or high-value compounds.
- Patent Life & Expiry: Typically, patents pending or granted around 2018 have a 20-year term, implying expiry around 2038 (assuming no extensions), after which generic manufacturing can commence, subject to market exclusivity rights.
3. Other Related Patents
- Patent searches reveal co-existing patents on similar compounds, method of use, or formulations. The strategic environment demands analyzing patent overlaps via patent landscaping tools to assess potential litigation or licensing hurdles.
4. Patent Challenges and Invalidations
- Given South Korea's rigorous examination standards, challenges may arise from prior art or obviousness arguments.
- The company’s stewardship of the patent—through continuous patent prosecution and market enforcement—will influence its strength.
Legal and Commercial Implications
- The patent provides market exclusivity in South Korea for the claimed compound/formulation, essential for recouping R&D investments.
- Protects against biosimilar or generic entrants seeking to develop similar therapeutics.
- The patent’s narrow or broad claims differ in strategic value: broad claims resist infringement but are harder to defend; narrow claims risk being circumvented.
Conclusion
Patent KR20180073689 offers a significant protective scope centered on a novel chemical entity or formulation with therapeutic utility in South Korea. Its claims likely balance broad structural features with specific embodiments, providing exclusivity for the protected invention. Its placement within the patent landscape reveals both opportunities and hurdles—necessitating ongoing monitoring of competing patents, potential licensing, and enforcement strategies.
Key Takeaways
- Vital Patent Scope: The scope hinges on the unique chemical structure or formulation claims, critical for defending market share.
- Strategic Patent Landscape Positioning: It exists within a dense patent environment, requiring continuous landscape analysis to avoid infringement and identify licensing opportunities.
- Patent Term & Extensibility: With a likely 20-year term from issuance, commercialization strategies must consider patent expiry timelines.
- Broader IP Strategy: Securing related patents in key jurisdictions can solidify global protection and deter generic challenges.
- Ongoing Monitoring: Active surveillance of similar patents and potential patent litigations in South Korea is essential for continued market exclusivity.
FAQs
1. What is the primary focus of patent KR20180073689?
It primarily protects a novel chemical compound or formulation with specified therapeutic applications, tailored to secure exclusive rights within South Korea’s evolving pharmaceutical IP landscape.
2. How does this patent influence market entry strategies in South Korea?
It creates a 20-year exclusivity window, discouraging competitors from launching generics with identical or similar compounds, thus allowing the patent holder to establish a market position.
3. Can this patent be challenged or invalidated?
Yes. Challenges can arise based on prior art or obviousness, especially if similar compounds or prior disclosures exist. Ongoing patent prosecution and validation efforts are critical.
4. Does the patent landscape suggest potential for licensing or partnerships?
Likely yes, especially if the patent covers a promising therapeutic target or formulation, and if competitors seek to develop alternative compounds within the same space.
5. What should stakeholders do to ensure freedom-to-operate?
Conduct comprehensive patent landscape analyses, monitor competing patents, consider licensing agreements, and develop diversified patent portfolios covering different aspects of the invention.
References
[1] South Korean Patent Database, KIPO.
[2] International Patent Databases: Espacenet, PATENTSCOPE.
[3] WIPO Patent Family analyses.
[4] Industry reports on pharmaceutical patent landscapes.
Note: A detailed review of the full patent document and related prosecution history is recommended for precise claims scope and legal status assessment.
