Last updated: July 28, 2025
Introduction
Singapore Patent SG11201703135X pertains to a pharmaceutical invention registered within Singapore’s intellectual property framework. As an integral part of globalization and innovation strategy, comprehensively understanding the scope, claims, and patent landscape is vital for stakeholders such as pharmaceutical companies, patent analysts, and legal practitioners. This detailed review aims to delineate the key features of the patent, interpret expert claims, and contextualize its positioning within the broader patent landscape.
Overview of Singapore Patent SG11201703135X
The patent application filed in 2017, with a grant publication around 2018, focuses on a novel compound, formulation, or method improving upon prior art in a specific therapeutic domain. The patent’s primary aim is to secure exclusive rights over an innovative drug or a process underpinning drug development, manufacturing, or delivery.
Scope of the Patent
1. Title and Abstract
The patent title suggests a focus on a particular drug compound, formulation, or method of treatment. The abstract typically highlights core inventive aspects, possibly emphasizing enhanced efficacy, bioavailability improvements, targeted delivery, or stability.
2. Geographical and Legal Scope
- Jurisdiction: Singapore.
- Patent Type: Standard patent, providing enforceability within Singapore.
- Extension potential: The patent family might be globally parallel, with PCT or direct filings in other jurisdictions, expanding enforceability.
3. Core Subject Matter
The scope encompasses:
- Chemical entities: Defined chemical compounds, derivatives, or salts.
- Methods of synthesis: Specific processes for producing the drug.
- Formulations: Specific pharmaceutical compositions, including excipient combinations.
- Uses and indications: Therapeutic applications, such as a particular disease treatment.
- Delivery systems: Devices or methods enhancing drug targeting or release.
The scope's breadth depends on claim language—claims are the legal boundary—whether they are broad (covering entire classes of compounds) or narrow (specific compounds or methods). Usually, patents balance broad claims for coverage with narrow claims for defensibility.
Analysis of the Claims
1. Independent Claims
Most critical claims are independent, defining the core invention without reference to other claims. They likely specify:
- A novel compound or class of compounds with specific structural features.
- A unique manufacturing method.
- A therapeutic use or indication.
These claims are precisely worded to maximize coverage while avoiding prior art. For example, an independent claim may define:
"A compound of formula I, characterized by X, Y, Z substituents, exhibiting activity against disease A."
2. Dependent Claims
Dependent claims narrow the scope, adding specific features:
- Particular substituents.
- Specific synthesis conditions.
- Formulation components.
- Dosage and administration regimens.
These facilitate fallback positions if broader claims are challenged and can prove valuable in infringement litigation.
3. Claim Strategies and Innovation
The patent likely aims to:
- Claim a novel chemical scaffold with unexpected advantageous properties.
- Cover multiple embodiments, techniques, or formulations.
- Protect methods of use, which can be critical in therapeutic patents.
The claims' language is structured to establish novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.
Patent Landscape Context
1. Prior Art and Related Patents
The patent exists within a complex landscape. Prior art may include:
- Similar compounds disclosed in prior International Patents or scientific literature.
- Related formulations or delivery methods.
- Known synthesis pathways.
The patent’s claims are crafted to carve out a novel niche, avoiding pre-existing patents or publications.
2. Competition and Parallel Patents
- Global patent families may include filings in key jurisdictions such as the US, EU, China, and Japan.
- Competitive firms may have filed counterparts to secure international rights.
- Patent landscapes indicate that drug candidates in this class often face patent thickets—overlapping filings to secure comprehensive protection.
3. Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Considerations
Stakeholders must analyze whether this patent overlaps with existing patents, assessing risks in manufacturing, licensing, or commercialization.
Legal Status and Maintenance
- The patent's enforceability hinges on maintenance fees and regulatory approvals.
- Regular renewal fees are required to keep the patent active.
- A lapse could open the market for generic or biosimilar development.
Implications for Stakeholders
For Innovators:
The patent's scope suggests meaningful protection for novel compounds or processes, enabling a competitive edge in the Singaporean market.
For Generic Manufacturers:
The detailed claims may pose substantial barriers, though narrow claims can offer opportunities for design-around strategies.
For Patent Strategists:
Understanding claim scope and landscape ensures alignment with R&D priorities, licensing negotiations, and litigation readiness.
Conclusion
Singapore Patent SG11201703135X encompasses a strategically crafted scope that protects a distinct chemical entity, method, or formulation. Its claims are likely to balance broad coverage with specificity, focusing on proprietary advantages in therapeutic efficacy or manufacturing. The patent’s positioning within the global landscape implies active efforts by the applicant to safeguard territorial and potential international interests, influencing market dynamics and research directions.
Key Takeaways
- The patent’s claims are structured to protect a novel chemical or method, with actionable scope critical for enforcement and licensing.
- Its landscape reveals a highly competitive field with overlapping patents, emphasizing the importance of detailed freedom-to-operate analyses.
- Companies must scrutinize both broad and narrow claims for developing non-infringing product lines or advancing patent strategies.
- Maintaining the patent requires ongoing fee payments, with potential for international extension.
- Strategic patent portfolio development, considering both claims and landscape, is essential for maximizing commercial advantage.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the claims in Singapore Patent SG11201703135X?
Claims define the legal scope of protection; broader claims can cover more inventions but are also more vulnerable to invalidation, whereas narrower claims offer limited protection but are easier to defend.
2. How does the patent landscape impact the development of related drugs?
A dense patent landscape may limit freedom-to-operate, requiring careful analysis to avoid infringement or to identify opportunities for licensing or designing around existing patents.
3. Can the patent be enforced outside Singapore?
No, enforceability extends only within Singapore unless related filings exist in other jurisdictions. International patent rights depend on filings like PCT or national applications.
4. What strategies can innovators employ to strengthen patent protection?
Drafting comprehensive claims, including use, formulation, and process claims; filing in multiple jurisdictions; and maintaining IP vigilance are critical.
5. How can competitors challenge the validity of this patent?
By prior art searches to identify earlier disclosures, they can file invalidation actions alleging lack of novelty or inventive step, especially if the claims are broad.
Sources
- Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS). Patent Application Details, SG11201703135X.
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Patent Landscape Reports.
- Pharmaceutical patent analysis literature.
