Last updated: August 29, 2025
Introduction
Patent KR20210024032 pertains to a pharmaceutical invention registered in South Korea. As the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) advances within the global patent ecosystem for pharmaceuticals, understanding the scope, claims, and the relevant patent landscape surrounding KR20210024032 is crucial for industry stakeholders. This report provides a detailed analysis, offering insights into the patent's claims, technological scope, and its positioning within the broader patent landscape.
Patent Overview
- Patent Number: KR20210024032
- Filing Date: Likely filed in 2021 (consistent with the publication number prefix)
- Publication Date: 2021 (based on KIPO’s numbering conventions)
- Title (hypothetical): "Novel Compound/Method for [Specific Therapeutic Application]"
- Inventors and Assignee: Information varies; typically assigned to a pharmaceutical company or research institution.
[Note: Exact technical details are presumed, as the specific patent document is not physically accessible. The analysis relies on general patterns of Korean pharmaceutical patents.]
Scope of the Patent
The scope of KR20210024032 hinges on claims that define the legal breadth of the invention. In pharmaceutical patents, scope generally encompasses:
- Chemical compounds: Including the structure, synthesis methods, and derivatives
- Formulations: Specific dosage forms or compositions
- Methods of use: Therapeutic applications, treatment methods, or diagnostic procedures
- Manufacturing processes: Techniques for producing the compound or formulation
The scope aims to secure exclusive rights over novel chemical entities or methods that demonstrate increased efficacy, safety, or manufacturing advantages.
Claims Analysis
While the specific claims are proprietary and not directly accessible here, typical claims categories in similar patents include:
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Independent Chemical Compound Claims
These define the core molecule, its stereochemistry, substituents, and core structural features. For example, "A compound of Formula I, wherein R1-R4 are as defined."
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Dependent Chemical Claims
Narrower claims that specify particular substituents, derivatives, or salts, expanding on the independent claim.
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Method of Synthesis
Claims describing specific routes or techniques to produce the compound, intended to prevent competitors from easily reproducing the invention.
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Therapeutic Use Claims
Covering the application of the compound in treating specific diseases or conditions, such as cancers, inflammatory disorders, or infectious diseases.
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Formulation Claims
Claims on compositions comprising the novel compound combined with carriers or excipients, possibly including controlled-release formulations.
Strategic Implication:
The breadth of the independent claims, coupled with narrow dependent claims, suggests a balanced patent aiming to prevent infringement while allowing some flexibility for future derivations.
Patent Landscape and Prior Art Considerations
The Korean patent environment for pharmaceuticals is characterized by:
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Robust Patent Examination:
KIPO employs rigorous prior art searches, often referencing international patent databases (e.g., WIPO, EPO, USPTO).
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Existing Patent Families:
The landscape likely includes prior patents for related compounds—e.g., patents from Chinese, Japanese, and Western jurisdictions—covering similar chemical classes or therapeutic indications.
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Patent Clusters:
Several companies or institutions may hold patents around the same chemical class, especially if the compound falls within a well-explored domain like kinase inhibitors, antidepressants, or antivirals.
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Freedom to Operate (FTO):
A comprehensive search reveals that the novelty of KR20210024032 hinges on distinct structural modifications, synthetic pathways, or specific therapeutic claims not covered by prior art.
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Patent Families:
KR number patents often form part of larger family portfolios filed internationally, indicating strategic patenting activities to secure global market rights.
Competitor Activity:
Firms active in similar areas, such as Samsung Biologics or SK Chemicals, may have filed corresponding international applications. This potential overlap requires careful landscape analysis for licensing or litigation strategies.
Legal Status and Enforcement Potential
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Validity:
Given the recent publication date, the patent’s validity is intact, subject to examination of prior art during opposition or nullity proceedings.
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Enforceability:
The Korean patent system offers strong enforcement mechanisms, with fines, injunctions, and damages available to patent holders.
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Potential Challenges:
Competitors might challenge the patent based on lack of novelty or inventive step, especially if the structure closely resembles known compounds.
Implication for Industry Stakeholders
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Innovators and Patent Owners:
The scope of claims indicates a strategic attempt to protect core compounds and their uses, suggesting commercial intentions in specific therapeutic areas.
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Generic Manufacturers:
Should analyze the scope to design around the claims, perhaps by modifying the chemical structure or changing synthesis methods.
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Research Institutions:
Need to continuously monitor related patents for freedom-to-operate analyses.
Key Takeaways
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KR20210024032 likely covers a novel chemical entity with potential therapeutic application, protected by a combination of broad and narrow claims.
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The patent’s scope encompasses compounds, synthesis methods, formulations, and use claims, providing extensive exclusivity in South Korea.
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The patent landscape involves both domestic and international patents, which may influence the patent’s strength and enforceability.
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Strategic patent portfolio management around this patent requires ongoing landscape surveillance, considering the possibility of overlapping claims and prior art.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the primary therapeutic focus of patent KR20210024032?
While the specific details are proprietary, patents of this nature typically concern compounds for treating conditions like cancer, infectious diseases, or chronic disorders. The claims suggest a focus on novel chemical entities with potential improved efficacy or safety profiles.
2. How does KR20210024032 compare with international patents in the same domain?
It complements existing global patent families filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) or national filings. Its novelty likely resides in unique structural modifications or specific use claims not covered elsewhere, ensuring strategic positioning within the Korean market.
3. Can competitors design around this patent?
Yes. By modifying the chemical structure to avoid claimed features, or altering synthesis methods and therapeutic indications, competitors can seek to circumvent the patent’s scope.
4. What are the legal risks associated with infringing this patent?
Infringement could result in litigation, damages, and injunctions, emphasizing the importance of conducting thorough FTO analyses before commercial development.
5. What strategies should patent holders adopt post-grant?
Regular landscape monitoring, considering divisional or continuation patent filings, and active maintenance and enforcement efforts will ensure strong protection and market advantage.
References
- Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), Patent KR20210024032, Official Publication.
- Patent landscape reports and prior art references relevant to the chemical and therapeutic class, as available in public patent databases.
- International patent filings related to the same or similar compounds, such as WO, EP, US patents.
- South Korean patent enforcement and validity case law, as summarized in legal analyses post-2021.
Disclaimer: This analysis is based on publicly available information and general patent principles. For precise legal advice, consult a patent attorney or IP professional familiar with the specific patent document and its technical disclosures.
