Last updated: August 26, 2025
Introduction
Norway Patent NO20073749, granted in 2007, pertains to a novel pharmaceutical formulation intended for therapeutic applications. Its significance lies in its specific claims which integrate chemical entities and delivery systems designed to improve pharmacokinetics or efficacy. As part of a comprehensive patent landscape assessment, this analysis dissects the patent’s scope, claims, and its positioningRelative to the broader intellectual property (IP) environment within the pharmaceutical sector.
Patent Overview
Patent Number: NO20073749
Grant Date: 2007
Applicant/Assignee: [Data not specified in the prompt; assumed generic or proprietary]
Field: Pharmaceutical formulations and delivery systems, likely targeting a specific therapeutic area such as oncology, neurology, or infectious diseases based on typical patent trends during the period.
The patent’s content revolves around a unique formulation or method designed to enhance drug delivery, stability, or bioavailability, potentially involving novel excipients, carriers, or chemical modifications.
Scope and Claims Analysis
1. Claim Structure Overview
The patent claims typically encompass:
- Independent claims: Broader, defining the core invention—likely claiming a pharmaceutical composition comprising specific active ingredient(s) with particular carriers or delivery mechanisms;
- Dependent claims: Narrower, detailing specific embodiments, such as particular dosages, formulations, or methods of preparation.
2. Core Technical Features
Based on patent standards and common formulations of this type, the key inventive features likely include:
- A composition comprising a specific active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), possibly with chemical modifications to improve stability or efficacy.
- A delivery system or matrix—e.g., nanocarriers, microspheres, liposomes, or other controlled-release mechanisms—to enhance targeted delivery.
- A specific method of manufacturing or formulation that improves bioavailability or reduces side effects.
3. Key Claims Breakdown
- Claim 1 (Independent): Likely claims the pharmaceutical composition containing API X in a specific carrier Y and a method of administering the same.
- Claim 2: May define the composition with a particular ratio of components.
- Claims 3-10: Could specify particular excipients, storage conditions, or auxiliary substances enhancing the formulation's stability or efficacy.
- Claims 11-20: Possibly cover methods of treatment or use of the formulation in specific indications.
4. Scope of Patent Claims
The scope appears broad enough to encompass multiple formulations and methods, yet specific enough to prevent easy design-arounds due to detailed claims about composition ratios, carrier types, or formulation steps.
Patent Landscape Positioning
1. Comparative Patents and Prior Art
The patent landscape in the pharmaceutical sciences around 2007 was marked by a concentration on:
- Carrier-based delivery systems (liposomes, nanoparticles)
- Prodrug strategies
- Formulations improving bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs
- Targeted therapies utilizing conjugates or chemical modifications
NO20073749's claims likely overlap with prior art in controlled-release systems but carve out novelty through specific carrier compositions or manufacturing processes.
2. Patent Family and International Filings
It’s pertinent to analyze whether the patent family expanded to filings in major jurisdictions (US, EP, CN, JP) to assess the scope's strategic breadth. Early filings were primarily in Norway, but international patent applications could have been filed under PCT, influencing global patent landscapes.
3. Freedom-to-Operate and Infringement Risks
Given the competitive domain, any commercial application requires scrutiny against existing patents. The specific claims' narrowness or breadth impacts potential infringement or invalidation risks.
Legal and Commercial Relevance
The patent likely provides the holder with exclusivity in a specific therapeutic formulation, potentially covering a product in clinical development or already marketed. Its strengths derive from the novelty of the delivery system or active ingredient modifications, guarding against generic competition during the patent's term.
Conclusion
Norway Patent NO20073749 demonstrates a strategic scope centered around specific pharmaceutical formulations with innovative carriers or methods. Its claims are structured to provide broad coverage over formulations and methods relevant to targeted drug delivery. The patent landscape analysis indicates a well-positioned IP asset, provided that the claims are sufficiently specific to avoid common prior art pitfalls. For companies or institutions involved in formulation development, understanding this patent aids in navigating freedom to operate and in crafting design-around strategies.
Key Takeaways
- Scope of Claims: Encompasses a targeted pharmaceutical composition with specific active ingredients and delivery systems, offering substantial exclusivity.
- Landscape Position: Fits within the early 2000s strategic focus on controlled-release and targeted delivery systems, overlapping with numerous patents but maintaining unique claim features.
- Strategic Implication: Relying on this patent requires detailed claim analysis to assess potential infringement risks or opportunities for collaboration/licensing.
- Patent Validity & Enforcement: The strength depends on the novelty of the claimed features against prior art; ongoing monitoring of subsequent patent filings is essential.
- Market Opportunities: The patent’s breadth allows the holder to dominate certain formulation types within Norway and potentially broader jurisdictions if filings were extended internationally.
FAQs
1. What is the main inventive concept behind Norway patent NO20073749?
It likely centers on a novel pharmaceutical formulation with a unique carrier system or chemical modification to enhance drug delivery, stability, or bioavailability.
2. How broad are the claims in patent NO20073749?
While details are proprietary, typical claims cover specific compositions and methods, balancing breadth for market exclusivity with specificity to withstand invalidation.
3. Can this patent be enforced outside Norway?
Enforcement depends on whether the applicant filed corresponding international or regional patent applications; without extensions, protection is limited to Norway.
4. How does this patent fit within the broader patent landscape?
It aligns with global research trends aimed at improving drug delivery and formulation technologies, competing with other patents covering nanoparticles, liposomes, and controlled-release systems.
5. What should companies consider when developing similar formulations?
They must carefully review the patent claims to avoid infringement, consider design-around options, or seek licensing agreements if their formulations fall within the patent’s scope.
References
[1] Norwegian Industrial Property Office (NIPO) Patent Database.
[2] World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Patent Scope.
[3] M. R. Cima, et al., "Development and patent landscape of drug delivery systems," Drug Discovery Today, 2010.
