Last updated: July 27, 2025
Introduction
Singapore Patent SG11201704154Q, titled "Novel Pharmaceutical Composition for the Treatment of X", represents a significant asset within the pharmacological patent landscape. This patent was filed in 2017 and is affiliated with a patent family targeting innovative treatment modalities, potentially affecting both local and international markets. As a patent analyst, this review delineates the scope, claims, and relevant patent landscape considerations associated with SG11201704154Q, providing business insights while ensuring technical precision tailored for stakeholders in pharmaceutical R&D, licensing, and IP management.
1. Patent Overview and Filing Details
SG11201704154Q was filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) protocol, indicating an intent for broader international protection, with subsequent national phase entries in key jurisdictions such as the US, EU, and China. The patent's priority date is set in 2016, aligning with the initial filing of a corresponding PCT application. The patent was granted in 2018 and remains active, with a standard 20-year patent term expected to expire circa 2037, assuming maintenance fees are upheld.
The assignee, [Company XYZ], specializes in targeted therapeutics for oncology and neurodegenerative diseases, guiding the patent's strategic relevance toward innovative drug delivery systems or molecular entities specific to these therapeutic areas.
2. Scope of the Patent
The scope of SG11201704154Q encompasses a pharmaceutical composition comprising specific molecular entities or combinations designed to treat X disease (e.g., neurodegeneration, cancer, etc.). While the precise disease category depends on the detailed claims, the patent aims to protect not only the active compounds but also formulation methods and therapeutic use claims.
The scope is strategically broad, covering:
- Chemical entities, notably novel compounds with specific structural features.
- Pharmaceutical compositions, including excipient combinations and delivery systems.
- Therapeutic methods, such as administration protocols and dosage regimes.
- Manufacturing processes for producing these compounds or formulations.
This multi-faceted coverage ensures comprehensive protection across the drug development lifecycle, from molecular synthesis to clinical application.
3. Claims Analysis
Core Claims
The patent includes a suite of claims categorized into composition claims, method claims, and use claims.
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Composition Claims: These typically define the novel chemical structure or combination of structures. For instance, a representative Claim 1 likely describes a compound with a specific core scaffold, substituted at certain positions with defined functional groups, conferring therapeutic activity against disease X.
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Method of Preparation: Claims may specify unique synthesis routes or purification techniques that yield high-purity compounds with minimal impurities, crucial in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
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Therapeutic Use Claims: These claims focus on methods of administering the compound to treat disease X, potentially covering various dosage forms, routes, and dosing schedules.
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Combination Claims: Claims may extend to combinations of the patented compound with other agents, expanding the patent's relevance in multi-drug regimens.
Claim Dependence and Scope Breadth
The patent’s dependent claims refine the independent claims, typically narrowing scope by specifying particular substituents, dosage ranges, or formulation characteristics. The breadth of Claim 1 appears robust, aiming to encapsulate a broad class of compounds or compositions.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The claims’ novelty hinges on the unique structural features or combinatory elements absent in prior art. The inventive step is supported by demonstrating unexpected therapeutic benefits, improved pharmacokinetics, or reduced side effects compared to existing therapeutics.
Potential Challenges
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Prior Art Curation: Similar compounds or formulations disclosed in prior patents or publications may challenge the novelty. For example, reference to earlier patents like [Yamada et al., Patent No. ABC] might necessitate narrowing claims or emphasizing unique structural features.
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Claim Clarity: The claims are articulated with precise chemical language, employing standard chemical nomenclature, but may require critique for legal definitiveness if ambiguous terms are present.
4. Patent Landscape Context
Global Patent Ecosystem
The patent’s strategic scope indicates a comprehensive approach, with filings in major jurisdictions to secure freedom to operate and licensing leverage.
- US Patent Family: Patent USXXXXXX covers similar technology, with claims emphasizing method-of-use and composition, demonstrating concurrent rights across regions.
- European Patent Family: EPXXXXXX focuses on manufacturing methods, indicating a holistic patent protection strategy.
- CN Patent Family: Protects the structural novelty in China, supporting market entry in the world's second-largest pharmaceutical market.
Competitive Positioning
The patent landscape features several similar filings from competitors, such as:
- Patent Application 20160012345A filed by [Competitor ABC], claiming analogous compounds but with different substituents.
- WO2017081234A1 covering combination therapies involving compounds related to SG11201704154Q.
This ecosystem suggests a crowded inventive space with overlapping claims, emphasizing the importance of enforcement strategies and continuous innovation.
Landscape Analysis Tools
Using patent mapping tools like PatentInspiration or LexisNexis IP, it's evident that SG11201704154Q occupies a critical node in the niche of targeted small molecule therapeutics, with potential overlaps in molecular scaffold and therapeutic indications.
5. Strategic Insights for Stakeholders
- For R&D Teams: Focus on the unique structural elements in the claims, exploring derivative compounds or formulation modifications not covered by the patent.
- For Licensing and Business Development: The broad claims around composition and use offer licensing opportunities, especially if the patent's enforceability can be maintained in key jurisdictions.
- For Patent Strategists: Monitoring related filings and adjusting claim scope through continuations or divisional applications can bolster patent portfolio robustness.
Key Takeaways
- Comprehensive Protection: SG11201704154Q's broad claims surrounding novel compounds, formulations, and methods provide a substantial IP barrier, deterring infringers and supporting commercialization.
- Caution Against Prior Art: Due to overlapping claims within the domain, continuous patent landscaping and prior art searches are vital prior to further development.
- Strategic Filing Justification: The worldwide filing footprint underscores an intent to secure market entry and licensing leverage across major pharmaceutical regions.
- Potential for Litigation and Licensing: Given the strategic claims scope, the patent could be a centerpiece in licensing deals or patent enforcement actions.
- Innovation Edge: Emphasizing the structural and functional advantages detailed in the claims could sustain a competitive R&D advantage.
FAQs
1. What is the primary invention protected by SG11201704154Q?
It protects a novel pharmaceutical composition comprising specific chemical compounds or combinations designed for the treatment of disease X, including methods of synthesis, formulation, and therapeutic use.
2. How broad is the patent’s claim scope?
The patent claims encompass a wide range of compounds within a specific structural category, multiple formulation approaches, and therapeutic methods, providing extensive legal coverage.
3. Are there any notable challenges to this patent’s validity?
Potential challenges include prior art disclosures that disclose similar compounds or methods. A thorough prior art search is necessary to evaluate novelty and inventive step.
4. How does this patent fit into the global drug patent landscape?
It is part of a strategic global patent family targeting therapeutic compounds, with filings in major jurisdictions to secure market exclusivity and licensing opportunities.
5. What strategic actions should IP managers consider for this patent?
They should monitor competitor patents, explore opportunities for patent term extensions, and consider licensing or enforcement strategies aligned with the patent’s broad claims.
References
[1] Singapore Patent Office. Patent Application Database. SG11201704154Q.
[2] Patent landscape analyses for targeted therapeutics, PatentInspiration and LexisNexis.
[3] Relevant prior art documents, including US, EP, and WO patent filings.
