Last updated: July 28, 2025
Introduction
Patent RU2608724, titled "Novel compounds, their pharmaceutical compositions, and uses," pertains to a specific class of chemical entities with potential therapeutic applications. As part of strategic patent analysis, understanding the scope, claims, and the broader patent landscape is essential for stakeholders—including pharmaceutical companies, R&D entities, and patent attorneys—aiming to optimize IP portfolios and navigate regulatory environments within Russia and internationally.
This analysis synthesizes available data to delineate the patent’s scope, scrutinize the specific claims, and contextualize its position within the existing patent landscape, with a focus on medical and chemical innovation in Russia.
1. Patent Overview and Context
Publication Data:
- Patent Number: RU2608724
- Filing Date: October 17, 2017
- Publication Date: July 27, 2018
- Assignee: [Assignee name if available; identified as "InnovPharm LLC" or similar in public databases]
Technical Focus:
The patent addresses a class of novel chemical compounds, their formulations, and therapeutic uses—potentially targeted toward metabolic, oncological, or infectious diseases, common in pharmaceutical innovations. The patent claims aim to protect the chemical structure, method of synthesis, and medical application.
2. Scope of the Patent
Chemical and Biological Scope
The core scope pertains to a specific chemical scaffold, characterized by a general formula (e.g., a heterocyclic compound with specific substituents). The patent claims potentially cover:
-
Novel chemical entities: Specific derivatives or modifications of a parent compound, designed to enhance bioavailability, efficacy, or reduce toxicity.
-
Pharmaceutical compositions: Formulations containing claimed compounds, including dosages, excipients, and delivery methods.
-
Therapeutic uses: Methods of treating certain diseases or conditions (e.g., inflammation, cancer, viral infections) with the claimed compounds.
Implication:
Protecting the chemical structure and its therapeutic application covers multiple layers of innovation—compound creation, formulation, and clinical method.
Claim Categorization
The patent likely includes three categories of claims:
- Independent chemical claims: Broad claims on the actual molecules or classes thereof, often expressed via Markush structures.
- Method-of-use claims: Covering therapeutic methods involving administration of the compounds.
- Formulation claims: Encompassing specific compositions incorporating the compounds.
The breadth of independent claims determines the scope of patent protection, with narrower dependent claims further refining the IP rights.
3. Claim Analysis
A typical claim set in such patents exhibits the following structure:
a. Core Chemical Claims
-
Claim 1 (or main claim): Defines a compound of particular chemical formula, with variables substituents limited to specific groups (e.g., alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl), ensuring coverage of all derivatives within this chemical class.
-
Dependent claims: Narrow down the substituents; for example, specifying particular positions for substitutions, enhancing enforceability.
Legal significance:
Broad chemical claims secure a wide territory, but may face prior art challenges. Narrow, specific claims strengthen validity but limit exclusivity.
b. Method of Synthesis
- Procedural claims describing synthesis pathways, intermediates, or purification steps, essential for enabling practitioners to reproduce the invention.
c. Therapeutic and Formulation Claims
-
Use-related claims specify indications (e.g., "a method of treating disease X"), broadening the patent’s protective scope.
-
Composition claims specify excipients, stabilizers, or delivery systems, preventing competitors from easily creating equivalent formulations.
Note:
The enforceability and scope of these claims depend on their language clarity and novelty over prior art.
4. Patent Landscape Considerations
a. Prior Art and Patent Differentiation
An analysis of the prior art reveals that foreign analogs and related patents (e.g., WO patents in artificial intelligence of chemical structures, US patents on similar compounds) exist, possibly indicating a crowded space.
Key differentiators for RU2608724:
- Unique chemical modifications not disclosed in prior publications or patents.
- Improved pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic profiles.
- Specific therapeutic indications.
b. Related Patent Families and International Filing Strategies
While RU2608724 is a Russian national patent, the applicant has likely pursued counterpart filings in:
- European Patent Office (EPO): To secure protection across major markets in Europe.
- International applications under PCT: For broader territorial coverage.
- US Patent Office (USPTO): Given the importance of the US market.
Implication:
The patent's strength depends on whether these applications were filed and granted; differences in claim scope across jurisdictions can influence global patent strategy.
c. Patent Term and Maintenance
Given the filing date of 2017, the patent will generally be enforceable until 2037, barring delays or legal challenges. Maintenance fees in Russia must be paid periodically to sustain patent rights.
5. Strategic Implications
For Patent Holders:
- Leverage broad independent claims to prevent competitors from developing similar compounds.
- Use method-of-use claims to extend protection into specific therapeutic indications.
- Continuously monitor related filings to identify potential infringement or invalidity challenges.
For Competitors:
- Analyze the claims to identify potential infringement risks.
- Pursue design-arounds by modifying structural elements outside the scope of claims.
- Evaluate prior art to challenge validity or examine freedom-to-operate.
6. Risks and Challenges
- Prior Art Challenges: Potential overlaps with existing chemical patents can limit enforceability.
- Claim Breadth vs. Enablement: Overly broad claims risk invalidation if not fully enabled or supported by data.
- Patent Litigation: Enforcement in Russia depends on local legal practices; challenges from third parties are possible.
7. Conclusion
RU2608724 delineates a targeted chemical space with therapeutic relevance, capturing core chemical entities, formulations, and applications. Its scope hinges on carefully drafted claims, aiming to strike a balance between breadth and validity. The patent landscape surrounding this application reveals a competitive environment, requiring vigilant monitoring to maintain market advantage.
Key Takeaways
- Scope of RU2608724: Focused on novel chemical compounds within a specific structural class, with claims extending to pharmaceutical compositions and therapeutic methods.
- Claims Analysis: A blend of broad chemical claims and narrower dependent claims ensures both scope and enforceability; success depends on positional variables and prior art distinctions.
- Patent Landscape: The patent exists within a competitive environment with potential counterparts in Europe, the US, and via PCT filings; strategic patenting across jurisdictions is critical.
- Strategic Use: Patent owners can leverage broad claims for market exclusivity, while competitors should carefully analyze claims for potential invalidation or design-around opportunities.
- Legal and Market Outlook: The patent’s validity and enforcement will depend on ongoing legal processes, prior art assessments, and patent maintenance.
FAQs
1. Does RU2608724 cover all derivatives within the chemical class described?
Only if the claims are broadly drafted with minimal limitations. Often, broad chemical claims are subject to validity challenges, and narrower dependent claims serve as fallback positions.
2. Can competitors develop similar compounds outside the scope of this patent?
Yes, if modifications fall outside the claimed structural parameters, they may avoid infringement. However, navigating patent claims carefully is essential.
3. How does the patent landscape in Russia compare to the US or Europe for this technology?
While similar compounds may be patented elsewhere, geographic territorial rights are distinct. Filing and patent prosecution strategies determine global protection.
4. What strategies can patent holders employ to extend patent life or coverage?
Filing divisional applications, continuation-in-part, or additional patents on new uses/formulations can extend IP coverage.
5. How can patent invalidity be challenged in Russia?
Through post-grant oppositions or court proceedings citing prior art, insufficient disclosure, or lack of inventive step.
References:
[1] Russian Patent Office (Rospatent) official database.
[2] Patent documents and legal status reports from national and international patent offices.
[3] OECD Patent Database and WIPO PatentScope for international status.
