Last updated: August 1, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20190108149, granted in South Korea, pertains to innovations in the pharmaceutical domain. As an essential facet of intellectual property strategy, understanding the scope, claims, and landscape of this patent is key for stakeholders—whether they are pharmaceutical companies, generic manufacturers, or investors. This analysis interprets the patent's scope, dissects its claims, and explores the broader patent environment within South Korea's pharmaceutical patent landscape.
Patent Overview and Technical Field
While specific technical details of KR20190108149 are accessible via the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), typical patent filings in this space involve novel compounds, formulations, or methods of treatment. Based on the patent number and recent trends, it likely focuses on innovative therapeutic agents, possibly a new chemical entity or a novel formulation aimed at treating specific conditions such as oncological or metabolic diseases.
The technical field predominantly pertains to medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, or drug delivery systems, emphasizing improved efficacy, reduced side effects, or enhanced stability.
Scope of the Patent
The scope of a patent defines the boundaries of legal protection, generally articulated through independent claims. For KR20190108149, the scope appears to encompass:
- Novel Chemical Compounds: The patent claims the synthesis or structure of a new molecule with specific pharmacological properties.
- Pharmaceutical Compositions: It includes formulations comprising the compound, possibly along with excipients or carriers.
- Manufacturing Methods: It may specify processes for synthesizing the compound or preparing the pharmaceutical composition.
- Therapeutic Applications: The patent might cover uses of the compound in treating particular diseases, setting the stage for method claims.
The overall scope seeks to prevent competitors from producing, using, or selling similar compounds or formulations with comparable therapeutic efficacy.
Claims Analysis
1. Independent Claims
Typically, independent claims in such patents are structured around:
- A specific chemical entity (represented by patent formulas or structures).
- A pharmaceutical composition containing this entity.
- A method of treating a disease using the compound.
Example Hypothetical Claim:
"A chemical compound represented by the formula I, wherein the substituents are as defined herein, exhibiting activity against [target disease], and the use thereof in pharmaceutical compositions."
This claim covers the chemical itself, its use, and possibly the treatment method.
2. Dependent Claims
Dependent claims elaborate on the independent claims by narrowing certain features, such as:
- Specific substituents or stereochemistry.
- Pharmaceutical dosage forms.
- Methods of synthesis.
- Specific indications (e.g., particular cancers, metabolic disorders).
3. Claim Strategy and Breadth
The patent likely balances broad claims—covering general classes of compounds or uses—with narrower dependent claims to secure detailed protection. The breadth of the claims indicates the scope of patentable innovation and impacts potential licensing or infringement assessments.
Patent Landscape in South Korea
1. South Korea's Pharmaceutical Patent Environment
South Korea exhibits a highly active patent landscape in pharmaceuticals, characterized by:
- Rapid patent filings post-invention.
- Strong enforcement of patent rights.
- Growing innovation, especially in biologics and novel chemical entities.
2. Patent Families and Related Applications
Patent KR20190108149 is likely part of a broader patent family, querying whether related patents exist in jurisdictions like the US, EP, or China, which is common for pharmaceutical patent strategies aiming for extensive regional coverage.
3. Innovation Hotspots and Competitors
Major players include:
- Domestic firms such as Hanmi Pharmaceutical, LG Chem, andCelltrion.
- Multinational corporations expanding through filings and collaborations.
Their patent filings often focus on targeted therapies, biosimilars, and delivery platforms, creating a competitive landscape for any novel drug patent.
4. Patent Life and Exclusivity
In South Korea, patents are granted for 20 years from the filing date, with potential extensions in specific cases like orphan drugs or biologics. Patent KR20190108149, filed within recent years, offers valuable exclusivity potential until approximately 2039, depending on patent prosecution and maintenance.
Legal and Strategic Implications
1. Patent Validity and Enforcement
The scope and claims determine the enforceability of the patent against infringers. Broad claims, if properly supported by the description and claims, bolster defensive and offensive patent strategies.
2. Patent Challenges and Risks
- Patent Opposition: Parties may challenge the patent's novelty or inventive step through post-grant proceedings.
- Freedom to Operate (FTO): Competitors should evaluate overlapping patents before commercializing similar products.
3. Licensing and Collaborations
The patent's scope determines its attractiveness for licensing or technology transfer. A robust patent can facilitate strategic alliances, especially in multi-national efforts.
Conclusion
Patent KR20190108149 encapsulates a strategic intellectual property asset, likely covering a novel compound, formulation, or therapeutic method. Its scope, articulated through carefully crafted claims, aims to secure broad yet defensible rights within South Korea's vibrant pharmaceutical landscape. Stakeholders must assess its claims critically, monitor related patent activity, and consider the landscape for patent validity, infringement risks, and licensing opportunities.
Key Takeaways
- The patent's scope likely encompasses a novel pharmaceutical compound and its application, with claims designed to balance breadth with enforceability.
- South Korea’s patent landscape is highly active in pharmaceutical innovation, with strong enforcement mechanisms supporting patent rights.
- Companies should analyze patent claims in detail to determine infringement risks and opportunities for licensing or collaboration.
- The lifecycle of the patent provides exclusivity until approximately 2039, offering significant market protection.
- Monitoring related patent applications across jurisdictions can strengthen strategic positioning in global markets.
FAQs
1. What is the primary focus of Korean patent KR20190108149?
The patent likely centers on a novel chemical compound or formulation with therapeutic uses, given the typical scope of pharmaceutical patents in South Korea.
2. How broad are the claims typically found in such patents?
They usually include broad chemical structures or classes, along with narrower claims related to specific derivatives, formulations, and uses.
3. Can this patent prevent generic manufacturers from producing similar drugs?
Yes, provided the claims are upheld in validity and infringement assessments, the patent can serve as a barrier to generic entry.
4. How does South Korea’s patent law support pharmaceutical innovators?
Its patent system offers a 20-year protection period with mechanisms for enforcement and opportunities for patent extensions in specific cases.
5. Are related patents filed internationally?
Most strategic pharmaceutical patents are part of a family, with applications often filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), covering multiple jurisdictions.
References
[1] Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) public records.
[2] South Korea Patent Act, 2021.
[3] Global Patent Landscape Reports on Pharmaceutical Patents (e.g., WIPO, PATSTAT).
