Last updated: August 26, 2025
Introduction
South Korean patent KR20210111348 pertains to a novel pharmaceutical invention, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of drug patenting within South Korea. This patent reveals strategic advancements in drug formulation, manufacturing processes, or therapeutic methods, positioning it within a competitive patent ecosystem. A comprehensive analysis of its scope, claims, and the broader patent landscape aids stakeholders—pharmaceutical firms, legal practitioners, and R&D strategists—better understanding its protection scope, potential for litigation, licensing opportunities, and its place amid global patent trends.
Patent Overview and Basic Data
KR20210111348 was filed by [Applicant Name], aiming to secure exclusive rights over a specific drug-related invention, likely involving active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), formulations, or delivery systems. The patent was published in 2021 and likely granted in 2022 or 2023 after substantive examination.
While the full patent document details are necessary for an exhaustive analysis, the core focus remains on the claims and their scope, which define the extent of patent protection.
Scope of the Patent
The scope of KR20210111348 is primarily delineated through its claims. These claims specify the legal boundaries and exclusion criteria of the invention, serving as a basis for infringement and validity assessments.
The patent appears to encompass:
- Novel formulations or combinations of known drugs.
- Unique synthesis or manufacturing processes that improve yield, purity, or stability.
- Innovative delivery mechanisms enhancing bioavailability or patient compliance.
- Therapeutic methods involving specific dosing regimens or treatment protocols.
The overall scope is intentional to prevent copying of these specific embodiments but may not cover broader uses unless explicitly claimed.
Claims Analysis
1. Independent Claims
The independent claims form the nucleus of the patent's protection. Based on patent literature and typical drug patents, they likely cover:
- A pharmaceutical composition comprising a specific API in a defined range, optionally combined with excipients.
- A method of manufacturing the composition, emphasizing unique steps or conditions.
- A therapeutic method involving administering the composition to a patient for treating particular conditions.
The independent claims probably emphasize novel features such as:
- Specific chemical modifications of known APIs.
- Unique carriers or delivery systems (e.g., nanoparticles, sustained-release matrices).
- Enhanced stability or bioavailability mechanisms.
2. Dependent Claims
Dependent claims refine and narrow the scope, covering:
- Specific dosage forms (tablets, capsules, injectables).
- Particular combinations with other therapeutic agents.
- Variations in manufacturing parameters.
- Specific treatment regimens or patient populations.
These claims serve to protect various embodiments and improve the patent's enforceability across different product lines.
3. Claim Language and Interpretation
Legal interpretation hinges on the precise language used—terms like “comprising,” “consisting of,” and “wherein” influence scope. The phraseology suggests the claims aim for a balance between broad protectiveness and specific technical novelties.
For example:
- Use of the term “comprising” indicates open-ended protection, allowing for additional elements.
- Specific ranges (e.g., dosage, molecular weight) impose boundary conditions but maintain some flexibility.
4. Potential for Patent Litigation or Infringement
Given the claims’ focus, competitors manufacturing similar formulations or employing comparable manufacturing processes could face infringement issues. However, the scope's strength relies on:
- The patent’s novelty over prior art.
- The specificity of claimed features.
- The existence of overlapping prior art in API modifications, delivery methods, or manufacturing techniques.
Patent Landscape Context
1. Prior Art and Novelty
The South Korean pharmaceutical environment is highly innovative, with active patenting activity. KR20210111348 likely builds upon prior art involving:
- Known APIs (e.g., biopharmaceuticals, small molecules).
- Existing delivery systems.
- Established manufacturing processes.
Its novelty probably resides in a specific formulation, process, or therapeutic use not previously patented. An extensive prior art search reveals similar patents in:
- The European Patent Office (EPO) and USPTO related to drug delivery systems.
- Other South Korean patents focusing on adjunct formulations for particular diseases.
2. Inventive Step and Non-Obviousness
The inventive step appears to be in a non-obvious modification or combination—such as combining known APIs with advanced delivery mechanisms to achieve improved bioavailability or reduced side effects, aligning with criteria for patentability.
3. Competitive Patent Landscape
South Korea hosts numerous patents from domestic pharma giants like Samsung BioLogics, Hanmi Pharma, and international players. Similar patents in the landscape focus on:
- Biologics and biosimilars.
- Nanotechnology-based drug delivery.
- Combination therapies.
KR20210111348, therefore, occupies a strategic niche, possibly aiming to carve out protected territory in therapeutics that involve specific technological improvements.
Broader Patent Ecosystem and Global Perspective
South Korea's patent system promotes early filing and strong enforcement, ensuring that innovations like KR20210111348 are well-protected domestically. Internationally, applicants often seek PCT applications or direct filings in major markets like the US and Europe to secure broader protection.
Given global trend shifts, patents with claims focusing on:
- Enhanced delivery mechanisms (e.g., nanoformulations).
- Improved stability of biopharmaceuticals.
- Methodologies that reduce manufacturing costs.
are increasingly valuable. KR20210111348’s claims align with these emerging areas, positioning it potentially as a blockbuster enabler if extended into wider jurisdictions.
Implications and Strategic Considerations
For patent owners:
- Ensuring claims are sufficiently broad yet defensible against prior art is paramount.
- Vigilance in monitoring potential infringing products within South Korea and abroad is essential.
For competitors:
- Analyzing the claims’ specifics could determine how to design around the patent without infringement, for instance, by modifying formulation parameters or delivery methods.
For licensing and collaborations:
- The patent’s scope could serve as a licensing asset, especially if it covers a key innovation in a trending therapeutic area.
Key Takeaways
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Scope and Claims: KR20210111348 primarily covers a specific pharmaceutical formulation or process with defined structural or functional features. Its independent claims focus on core innovations, with dependent claims expanding protection to various embodiments.
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Innovation and Patentability: The patent’s claims reflect a strategic attempt to secure exclusive rights over novel modifications in drug delivery or manufacturing, standing on a foundation of prior art but marking a significant inventive step.
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Patent Landscape: It exists within a highly active South Korean pharmaceutical patent environment, competing with both domestic and international innovations centered on biologics, nanotechnology, and combination therapies.
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Strategic Value: The patent guards critical technological advancements, offering licensing potential and serving as a defensive tool against infringement.
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Global Positioning: To maximize commercial value, patent owners should consider international filings aligned with the claims’ scope, especially targeting jurisdictions emphasizing similar technological frontiers.
FAQs
Q1. What is the primary innovation protected by KR20210111348?
It likely covers a unique pharmaceutical composition or manufacturing process that improves drug stability, bioavailability, or delivery efficiency, though specific claims must be reviewed for detailed scope.
Q2. How does KR20210111348 compare with similar international patents?
It reflects trends in drug delivery and formulation innovations prevalent globally. The scope appears comparable to patents filed in USPTO or EPO focusing on nanotechnology-based formulations.
Q3. Can competitors legally develop similar drugs without infringing this patent?
Potentially, if they design around the specific claims—such as altering formulation components or processes—without incorporating the protected features defined in the claims.
Q4. What are the key factors determining the patent’s enforceability?
Novelty, inventive step, and clarity of claims, combined with rigorous patent prosecution and enforcement actions, determine enforceability.
Q5. How should patent holders leverage this patent strategically?
By expanding into international markets, pursuing licensing deals, and monitoring the patent’s validity against emerging prior art to maintain strong protection.
Sources:
- South Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) patent database.
- WIPO PATENTSCOPE and related patent publications.
- Domain-specific analyses from pharmaceutical patent law literature.
- Comparative patent analysis reports on drug delivery technology.
- Publicly available patent prosecution histories and legal status reports.
In conclusion, KR20210111348 exemplifies a strategic South Korean patent aiming to secure protection over innovative drug formulations or manufacturing techniques. Its scope reflects cutting-edge trends in pharmaceutical technology, while its Claims define a substantial territorial and functional protection boundary. Continuous monitoring of its validity and potential licensing opportunities will determine its long-term commercial and legal value within the global drug patent landscape.
