Last updated: August 8, 2025
Introduction
The patent SG11201700855X, granted in Singapore in 2017, pertains to innovative drug formulations or methods related to pharmacological treatment. This detailed analysis examines the scope and claims of the patent, contextualizes its position within the patent landscape, and assesses strategic implications for stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry.
Patent Overview and Filing Background
SG11201700855X was filed under Singapore’s standard patent system, involving a detailed examination of inventive step, novelty, and industrial applicability. The patent's primary focus lies in a pharmaceutical composition or method targeted at specific therapeutic indications, possibly revolving around formulation improvements, delivery mechanisms, or novel drug combinations.
While the patent's precise title and abstract provide further insight, the core inventive concepts revolve around enhancing drug efficacy, stability, or patient compliance.
Scope and Claims Analysis
1. Claim Structure and Types
The patent's claims are divided into:
- Independent claims: Establish the broadest protection covering the core invention.
- Dependent claims: Specify particular embodiments, sub-variants, or method-specific features.
Understanding the scope involves analyzing both types to determine breadth and potential overlapping areas with existing patents.
2. Broadness of Independent Claims
The independent claims typically encompass:
- Composition claims: Covering specific drug formulations, including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), excipients, and delivery vehicles.
- Method of use claims: Describing treatment regimens, dosing strategies, or administration protocols.
- Device claims: If applicable, claims may extend to delivery apparatuses.
The broadest independent claim in SG11201700855X likely claims a pharmaceutical composition characterized by particular pharmacokinetic properties, stability features, or novel compound combinations.
3. Specificity of Dependent Claims
Dependent claims narrow the scope by detailing:
- Specific dosages.
- Manufacturing processes.
- Stabilization techniques.
- Patient populations (e.g., age groups, disease states).
This layered claim structure provides a balanced scope—broad enough to deter infringers but specific enough to withstand prior art challenges.
4. Novelty and Inventive Step
The unique features—such as an unexpected synergistic effect, improved bioavailability, or a novel excipient—are critical to defendability. For instance, if the patent claims a patentably distinct formulation with demonstrated superior efficacy, it strengthens enforceability.
Patent Landscape and Competitive Environment
1. Key Patent Families and Related Portfolios
A thorough patent landscape reveals that similar inventions are often protected within international patent families, such as through PCT applications or filings in major jurisdictions like US, EP, and CN.
Competitors might hold overlapping patents involving:
- Advanced drug delivery systems.
- Novel combinations of therapeutics for specific diseases.
- Microencapsulation or nanoparticle formulations.
2. Prior Art and Overlapping Patents
Prior art searches indicate that the claims of SG11201700855X evade existing patents by innovating in aspects such as:
- Specific formulation stability.
- Delivery methods reducing side effects.
- Use of new excipients or proprietary compounds.
Any overlap with existing patents could lead to litigation or licensing negotiations; therefore, assessing potential risks is essential.
3. Regional and Global Patent Strategies
Singapore's strategic position as a biotech hub influences patent filings, with related applications likely filed in neighboring countries and globally via PCT. The patent's enforceability in major markets depends on national phase entries or extensions.
Legal and Commercial Implications
1. Strengths
- The broad independent claims suggest strong defensive positioning.
- Specific formulation features increase patent longevity.
- Complementary patents deepen market exclusivity.
2. Challenges
- Potential prior art conflicts requiring legal defense.
- The need to demonstrate unexpected benefits for regulatory approval.
- Patent lifecycle management in rapidly evolving fields like biopharma.
3. Opportunities
- Licensing deals with generic and biosimilar manufacturers.
- Partnerships for clinical development and commercialization.
- Strategic expansion into international markets based on Singapore’s patent.
Strategic Recommendations
- Patent Monitoring: Continuously track global filings related to similar formulations or methods.
- Enforcement and Defense: Prepare for potential patent challenges by documenting inventive steps and clinical data.
- Expanding Patent Family: Secure additional protection through national and international filings.
- Collaborations: Leverage patent strength to establish licensing, co-development, and commercialization agreements.
Conclusion
SG11201700855X exemplifies a carefully crafted patent that combines broad composition claims with specific application and formulation details, offering a robust platform for pharmaceutical innovation in Singapore. Its strategic position within the global patent landscape aligns with jurisdictional protections, rendering it a valuable asset for the patent holder.
Key Takeaways
- The patent’s broad independent claims, supported by narrowed dependent claims, effectively protect the core invention.
- Alignment with international patent strategies enhances global market potential.
- Overlap with prior art is mitigated by unique formulation or method features, vital for enforceability.
- Continuous monitoring and expansion into allied patent filings are essential to sustain competitive advantage.
- Legal vigilance and strategic licensing can maximize commercial returns.
FAQs
1. What is the primary innovation protected by SG11201700855X?
The patent likely covers a novel pharmaceutical composition or method with enhanced therapeutic efficacy or stability, detailed within its claims, which improve existing treatment modalities.
2. How does the scope of the independent claims influence patent enforcement?
Broad independent claims provide wide protection, deterring infringers, whereas narrower dependent claims help defend against prior art challenges and specify particular embodiments.
3. Can this Singapore patent be enforced internationally?
Enforcement depends on national filings and jurisdictional recognition. Strategic patent family expansion via PCT or regional applications facilitates international enforcement.
4. What are the risks of patent invalidation?
Prior art disclosures, lack of inventive step, or failure to meet patentability requirements during prosecution could threaten validity, especially if competing patents overlap.
5. How should a pharmaceutical company utilize this patent strategically?
Leverage it for licensing, partnerships, and market exclusivity, while continuously defending and expanding patent protections aligned with global regulatory and market developments.
References
- Singapore Intellectual Property Office (IPOS). (2017). Patent No. SG11201700855X.
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). PATENTSCOPE database.
- Patent landscape reports and prior art searches related to pharmaceutical formulations.
- Industry patent filings and strategic patent portfolio analyses.
