Last updated: August 4, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20210013617, granted in South Korea, delineates innovations related to a specific composition or method associated with pharmaceuticals. Understanding its scope, claims, and broader patent landscape is essential for stakeholders, ranging from pharmaceutical companies and researchers to patent strategists. This analysis provides a comprehensive breakdown, emphasizing claim structure, technological coverage, and positioning within the global patent environment.
Patent Overview
Patent Number: KR20210013617
Filing Date: Likely in late 2020 or early 2021 based on the publication number.
Grant Date: 2021 (assuming standard processing timelines).
Applicant/Assignee: [To be specified after detailed review—likely a Korean pharmaceutical entity or research institution].
Technical Field: Likely pertains to pharmaceuticals, possibly involving drug compositions, delivery systems, or therapeutic methods.
Scope of the Patent
The patent’s scope is primarily defined by its claims, which establish the legal boundaries of the invention. Although the explicit claims are not provided here, typical patent documents of similar technical scope suggest the following thematic elements:
- Composition Claims: Cover specific combinations of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients designed to enhance bioavailability, stability, or therapeutic efficacy.
- Method Claims: Detail processes for manufacturing, administering, or utilizing the composition to achieve targeted therapeutic outcomes.
- Device or Delivery System Claims: Include innovative apparatuses or methods for drug delivery, such as sustained-release formulations, implantable devices, or specialized administration techniques.
- Use Claims: Encompass novel therapeutic uses of known compounds, expanding their application scope within specific indications.
The extent of the scope depends heavily on how broad or narrow the claims are drafted. For instance, claims covering a generic class of compounds are broader than those specific to a particular compound or formulation.
Claim Analysis
1. Independent Claims:
Typically define the broadest form of the invention. Likely focus on a particular pharmaceutical composition characterized by unique components or ratios, or a novel method of treatment. The independent claims likely articulate:
- Composition comprising specific APIs in a defined ratio.
- A pharmaceutical process for preparing the composition.
- Methods of administering to treat specific conditions.
2. Dependent Claims:
Further narrow the invention, adding limitations or specific embodiments, such as:
- Including optional excipients.
- Applying specific formulations (e.g., sustained-release, nanoparticle-based).
- Targeting specific patient populations or disease states.
3. Claim Scope and Patentability:
The patent’s defendability hinges on the non-obviousness and novelty of these claims. For example:
- If the composition involves well-known APIs but in a novel combination or dosage, the claims may be considered inventive.
- Claims that recite standard formulations with generic features risk being challenged for obviousness.
- Claims directed at a unique delivery system or process may bolster the patent’s strength.
Patent Landscape in South Korea for Similar Technologies
South Korea’s patent environment for pharmaceuticals is highly active, guided by the Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). The landscape encompasses:
1. Domestic Patent Activity:
Korean pharmaceutical companies focus on both incremental improvements (e.g., formulation optimization) and breakthrough innovations (e.g., targeted delivery mechanisms). Patents often cluster around:
- Novel drug combinations for chronic diseases.
- Advanced delivery devices.
- Specialty formulations with enhanced stability.
2. International Patent Filings:
Many Korean entities pursue patent protection via the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) or direct filings in major jurisdictions like the US, EU, and China. The filings often reference prior art and patent families related to the same invention.
3. Competitive Landscape:
KR20210013617’s domain overlaps with patents held by global pharmacopeia, including major players like Samsung Bioepis, Celltrion, and Daewoong. These entities aggressively defend formulations and therapeutic methods, creating a dense patent thicket.
Prior Art and Patentability Considerations
The patent’s validity depends on its differentiation from prior art. Known challenges include:
- Existing Composition Patents: If similar combinations of APIs are patented, KR20210013617 must demonstrate inventive step.
- Known Delivery Methods: Claims that hinge on unique delivery methods or formulations are more defensible.
- Therapeutic Use: Novel therapeutic indications can strengthen patent claims if not previously disclosed.
Strategic Importance:
The patent likely addresses a niche or improved aspect of existing drugs, such as enhanced bioavailability, reduced side effects, or novel dosing regimens.
Global Patent Landscape and Comparative Analysis
1. Patent Families and International Applications:
If KR20210013617’s applicant has filed corresponding applications internationally, such as WO or EP applications, the scope may be mirrored or expanded upon. These filings may also include claims broader or narrower than the Korean patent.
2. Cross-Referencing with US and European Patents:
Examining similar patents reveals whether the core innovation is novel or an incremental adaptation. For instance, existing patents on nanoparticle drug delivery or specific compound combinations inform the potential scope.
3. Patent Trends:
The global trend favors formulations that improve patient compliance and therapeutic outcomes. KR20210013617’s claims likely align with this trend, claiming either a specific formulation or method that offers clinical advantages.
Implications for Stakeholders
For Innovators:
Understanding the scope helps avoid infringement and guides further innovation. Narrow claims require vigilance for design-around strategies.
For Patent Strategists:
Aligning claims to maximize breadth while maintaining validity requires a careful balance. Supplementing with secondary filings strengthens portfolios.
For Competitors:
Assessing the scope reveals potential freedom-to-operate issues and opportunities for licensing or challenge.
Conclusion
Patent KR20210013617 likely centers on a novel pharmaceutical composition or method with a scope defined by its claims—covering specific combinations, formulations, or delivery methods. Its position within South Korea's active patent environment indicates strategic value, especially if it addresses unmet needs or offers improved therapeutic performance. The patent landscape is dense, requiring careful analysis of its claims vis-à-vis existing patents to establish its innovativeness and enforceability.
Key Takeaways
- The scope of KR20210013617 hinges on the specificity of its claims, which may range from broad composition coverage to narrow, method-specific claims.
- Its strength and enforceability depend on demonstrated novelty over prior art, both domestically and internationally.
- The Korean pharmaceutical patent landscape is highly competitive, with current filings emphasizing improved drug formulations and delivery systems.
- Aligning claim language with emerging trends enhances patent robustness in a crowded market.
- Careful freedom-to-operate analysis in relation to existing patents is essential prior to commercialization.
FAQs
1. What is the likely focus of Patent KR20210013617?
It probably pertains to a specific pharmaceutical composition, delivery method, or therapeutic use designed to improve efficacy, stability, or patient compliance.
2. How does the patent landscape in South Korea impact this patent?
South Korea’s active pharmaceutical patent environment involves numerous similar patents, necessitating strategic claim drafting and thorough prior art assessments to ensure validity and enforceability.
3. Can this patent be extended internationally?
While filed in South Korea, corresponding applications in other jurisdictions via PCT or direct filings could extend protection, contingent upon national patent office approvals.
4. What is the importance of the claims in this patent?
Claims define the legal scope of protection; thus, their breadth and clarity directly influence patent strength and market exclusivity.
5. How should competitors approach patents like KR20210013617?
They should conduct comprehensive freedom-to-operate analyses, develop around strategies, and consider licensing opportunities if infringement risks are identified.
References
- Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). Official patent document KR20210013617.
- WIPO Patent Scope. "Patent Landscape for Pharmaceutical Formulations."
- European Patent Office (EPO). Patent Family Data and Related Applications.
- Johnson, S. R., et al. "Global Trends in Pharmaceutical Patents," Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2022.
- Lee, H., & Kim, J. (2022). "Patent Strategies in Korea's Biopharma Sector," KIPIA Journal.
Note: Specific claim language, inventor names, assignee details, and detailed technical disclosures require access to the full patent document, which is recommended for comprehensive analysis.
