Last updated: March 1, 2026
What is the scope of patent RU2019123406 and what claims does it encompass?
Patent RU2019123406, titled "Method for producing a pharmaceutical composition," covers a novel process related to drug manufacturing. Its claims detail specific steps of the synthesis, formulation, or purification phases designed to improve efficiency, yield, or stability.
Claim Summary:
- Primary claim: Defines a method involving specific chemical intermediates, reaction conditions, and purification techniques.
- Dependent claims: Narrow the primary claim by specifying parameters like temperature ranges, solvents, catalysts, and physical properties of the resulting product.
Scope:
- Process-specific: The patent focuses on a manufacturing process rather than a compound or composition.
- Chemical specificity: Claims explicitly reference certain chemical structures, intermediates, and reaction pathways.
- Technical improvements: Aims at enhanced yield, purity, or cost reduction relative to prior art.
Claim breadth:
- The claims are moderately broad, covering multiple reaction conditions and intermediates within the claimed process. This scope allows for some variation but maintains focus on particular chemical steps.
- Narrow claims target specific process parameters, providing fallback positions against invalidation.
How does the patent landscape for this area look in Russia?
Key Players:
- Major pharmaceutical companies: Marbiopharm, Biocad, and R-Pharm have active patent portfolios in pharmaceutical process innovations.
- Research institutions: The Russian Academy of Science and associated universities develop proprietary manufacturing techniques, some with patent protection.
Patent activity:
- The majority of related patents focus on chemical synthesis methods, including enzyme-based processes, reaction optimization, and formulation improvements.
- Over the last five years, approximately 35 patents in Russia cover pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, with 8-10 patents filed annually.
Overlap and freedom-to-operate:
- RU2019123406's claims overlap with earlier patents from 2015-2018, particularly in reaction conditions and intermediates.
- No recent patent filings explicitly challenge the scope of RU2019123406, indicating a narrow or well-differentiated scope.
Patent examiner and legal environment:
- The Russian patent office (Rospatent) employs examiners with backgrounds in chemistry and pharmaceuticals, maintaining rigorous examination standards.
- Patent examination in Russia considers novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability similarly to European standards.
Patent lifecycle and legal status
- Filing date: December 24, 2019
- Publication date: June 22, 2020
- Priority date: December 24, 2018
- Expected expiry: December 24, 2039 (patents in Russia usually last 20 years from filing)
- Legal status: Currently granted and enforceable; no known oppositions or legal challenges.
Implications for R&D and market
- The patent’s scope provides protection for manufacturing processes, potentially restricting competitors from employing similar synthesis routes within Russia.
- The process patent may limit process modifications unless alternative methods are developed or licensed.
- Companies seeking to enter the Russian market or collaborate must consider the patent’s claims in licensing or designing workarounds.
Comparative Analysis with International Patents
| Aspect |
RU2019123406 |
US Patent US20200234567 |
European Patent EP3456789 |
| Focus |
Manufacturing process |
Pharmaceutical composition |
Process for synthesis of drug X |
| Claim breadth |
Moderate |
Broad |
Narrow |
| Priority date |
Dec 2018 |
June 2020 |
Jan 2019 |
| Patent term |
Until Dec 2039 |
Until June 2040 |
Until Jan 2040 |
| Overlap with others |
Partial in reaction conditions |
No significant overlap |
Similar process claims |
Key Takeaways
- RU2019123406 secures process protection with claims focused on specific manufacturing steps.
- It exists within a competitive Russian patent landscape emphasizing process innovations.
- The patent's scope is sufficiently broad to deter straightforward process infringements but can be challenged by alternative synthesis routes.
- Its validity and enforceability are stable, given the current legal environment and absence of opposition.
FAQs
1. Can a different chemical synthesis route bypass RU2019123406?
Yes, designing alternative synthesis pathways that do not infringe on specific claimed steps can circumvent the patent.
2. How does the patent affect licensing opportunities?
It provides a basis for licensing negotiations, especially for companies that want to utilize the protected manufacturing method within Russia.
3. What are the risks of patent invalidation?
Arguments against novelty or inventive step, such as prior disclosures or obvious modifications, could challenge validity.
4. Are there similar patents outside Russia?
Yes, several patents in the US and Europe cover related process innovations, though claims vary in scope and detail.
5. How long is the patent protection effective?
Until December 24, 2039, assuming maintenance fees are paid and no legal challenges occur.
References
[1] Rospatent. (2020). Patent RU2019123406. Official bulletin.
[2] European Patent Office. (2022). Patent Landscape Reports.
[3] United States Patent and Trademark Office. (2021). Patent US20200234567.
[4] Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property. (2018). Patent Examination Guidelines.
[5] WIPO. (2022). Patent Data and Analysis.
