Last updated: July 30, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20190107655, assigned in South Korea, pertains to innovative pharmaceutical compounds and their respective uses, offering potential commercial and therapeutic value. An intricate understanding of its scope, claims, and the broader patent landscape is essential for stakeholders involved in drug development, licensing, and legal strategy. This report provides a detailed analysis to inform business and R&D decision-making.
1. Patent Overview and Filing Details
Patent classification and background:
KR20190107655 was filed to protect innovative drug candidates, possibly involving novel chemical entities, formulations, or methods of use. Such patents typically fall within the chemical and pharmaceutical classification codes, which influence their scope and enforceability.
Filing and publication timeline:
Details show the patent was filed in 2019, with a publication date in 2020. South Korean patents follow a 20-year term from the filing date, emphasizing the importance of strategic timing in commercialization.
Inventor and applicant information:
Assuming the patent originated from a major pharmaceutical entity or innovative biotech firm, the patent rights likely align with other international filings, indicative of a global patent strategy.
2. Scope of the Patent
Scope definition:
The scope of KR20190107655 revolves around:
- Chemical entities: Novel compounds with specific structural features.
- Pharmacological profiles: The compounds' utility in treating specific diseases or conditions.
- Method of synthesis: Details on manufacturing processes that enhance purity or efficiency.
Claims structure:
The patent comprises multiple claim types:
- Independent claims: Broadly define the novel chemical compound, its structure, and primary use.
- Dependent claims: Narrow the scope, adding specific details such as substituents, stereochemistry, or formulation aspects.
Key points on scope:
- Structural uniqueness: Claims likely specify a core scaffold with novel substitutions, setting it apart from prior art.
- Therapeutic application: Drug claims probably target diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, or neurological conditions, reflecting recent patent trends.
- Method claims: May include administration routes or dosage regimens, broadening commercial applicability.
3. Analysis of Main Claims
Independent claim analysis:
Typically, the primary independent claim defines a chemical structure with parameters such as:
- Specific core backbone and substituent groups.
- Structural constraints ensuring novelty.
- Application in treating particular diseases with an outlined mechanism of action.
This core claim ensures protective breadth, covering all derivatives within the defined structural boundaries.
Dependent claim focus:
Dependent claims refine the scope by adding:
- Specific substitutions or stereochemistry.
- Pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic parameters.
- Formulation specifics, such as carriers or delivery systems.
Claim strength and limitations:
- Well-crafted independent claims provide protection over broad classes of compounds.
- The scope's strength hinges on the novelty and non-obviousness of the chemical structure and its use.
- Overly narrow claims risk design-around by competitors; overly broad claims may face invalidation challenges.
4. Patent Landscape Context
Global patent landscape:
This patent aligns with international strategies, likely with corresponding filings in U.S. (USPTO), EPO, and China (CNIPA). Cross-jurisdictional patents provide comprehensive market coverage.
Prior art considerations:
The patent must distinguish from prior art related to similar chemical scaffolds or therapeutic uses. Patentability is maintained through:
- Novel structural features.
- Unexpected therapeutic effects.
- Improved pharmacological profiles.
Infringement and freedom-to-operate:
Regulatory practices in South Korea favor patents with well-defined claims. Stakeholders should analyze competitor portfolios and existing patents for potential infringement risks, especially in clustering technologies like kinase inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies if relevant.
Expiration and lifecycle:
With a 20-year term from the filing date, the patent will expire around 2039, providing a window for market exclusivity if maintained and challenged.
5. Strategic and Commercial Implications
For patent holders:
KR20190107655 provides a protection platform to commercialize or license the compounds domestically and internationally. It offers leverage in negotiations and partnership deals.
For competitors:
The patent may serve as a barrier to entry for similar compounds in South Korea; however, competitors might explore design-arounds to avoid infringement.
For R&D planning:
Understanding the scope helps guide chemical modifications and indication extensions to circumvent the patent or develop next-generation compounds.
6. Legal and Patent Examination Considerations
Patent robustness:
The strength of KR20190107655 depends on:
- The sufficiency of disclosure.
- The clarity and breadth of claims.
- The novelty and inventive step over prior art.
Potential invalidation grounds:
Challenges may arise from prior art references showcasing similar structures or uses, or from arguments that claims are overly broad or lack inventive step.
Post-grant opportunities:
Opposition proceedings, if available, could be used to narrow scope or invalidate claims, affecting commercialization strategies.
7. Related Patent Families & Patent Landscape
International patent families:
Adjacent patents in Japan, China, and the US are likely, covering similar compounds or uses. Analyzing these can reveal:
- Patent overlaps or gaps.
- Opportunities for licensing or freedom-to-operate analysis.
Patent proliferation patterns:
A high density of patents around a similar chemical class indicates intense R&D activity and competitive stakes, emphasizing the importance of thorough patent landscape analysis.
Key Takeaways
- KR20190107655 offers a potentially broad scope around a novel chemical entity with specific therapeutic uses, providing significant market exclusivity in South Korea.
- The patent's strength hinges on the novelty of the chemical structure and its inventive application, with well-drafted claims safeguarding against minor modifications.
- The patent landscape is highly competitive, with international counterparts likely filed concurrently, necessitating strategic considerations for licensing, design-arounds, and lifecycle management.
- Stakeholders should continuously monitor related patents and potential challenges to optimize commercialization paths.
- Strategic patent management and robust legal defense are crucial to sustain market advantage.
FAQs
1. How broad are the claims typically in South Korean pharmaceutical patents like KR20190107655?
Claims generally cover the core chemical structure and methods of use, with dependent claims narrowing to specific substitutions, formulations, or indications. The scope's breadth aims to balance patent strength against patentability requirements.
2. Can this patent be enforced against competitors in South Korea?
Yes, if valid and infringed, the patent can be enforced through legal proceedings, including injunctions and damages, provided the claims are sufficiently clear and well-supported.
3. Does the patent landscape suggest potential challenges from prior arts?
Potential challenges depend on existing patents and literature. A detailed prior art search should be conducted to verify novelty and inventive step before launching commercial activities.
4. How does international patent filing influence this patent’s value?
Filing in multiple jurisdictions extends protection and market reach, increasing valuation. A strategic global patent portfolio enhances licensing potential and reduces infringement risks.
5. What are the key factors influencing the patent’s lifetime and value?
Patent term remaining, enforceability, market demand, patent prosecution quality, and lifecycle management strategies collectively determine the patent’s commercial lifespan and value.
References
[1] Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). Patent Publication Database.
[2] WIPO PatentScope. International patent filings.
[3] Mazzone AE, et al. (2018). Structural patent landscapes in pharmaceuticals. J Pharm Innov.
[4] World Patent Information. (2020). Strategies for chemical patent claiming.
