Last updated: August 9, 2025
Introduction
Taiwan Patent TW201410271, titled "Pharmaceutical Composition for Treating Cancer," presents a focused innovation within oncological therapeutics. Analyzing its scope, claims, and the broader patent landscape aids stakeholders—pharmaceutical developers, competitors, and IP strategists—in understanding potential opportunities and risks associated with this patent. This comprehensive review synthesizes the patent’s claims, scope, and contextualizes it within established patent landscapes to inform strategic decision-making.
Patent Overview & Background
TW201410271 was filed on August 29, 2014, and granted on March 4, 2015. The patent is assigned to a Taiwanese entity specializing in anticancer pharmaceutical compositions. Its core innovation relates to a composition comprising specific drug combinations and delivery mechanisms optimized for cancer treatment.
The patent addresses a notable therapeutic gap: enhancing efficacy and reducing adverse effects in cancer treatments by combining known chemotherapeutic agents with novel delivery platforms or adjuvants. This positioning aligns with the global trend toward combination therapies and personalized medicine.
Scope and Core Claims
Claim Analysis is vital as the scope defines enforceable rights and potential infringement boundaries. The patent contains multiple claims, primarily divided into independent and dependent claims, with the core independent claim outlined below.
Independent Claim 1 (paraphrased):
A pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of at least two agents selected from a specific class of anticancer compounds, wherein the combination exhibits enhanced efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth compared to monotherapies, and optionally includes a targeting ligand or delivery vehicle.
Scope of Claims
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Subject Matter: The patent principally claims a combination-based pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer. The combination can include two or more specified chemotherapeutic agents, with the potential inclusion of adjuvants or delivery systems.
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Agents & Components: Claims specify certain drug classes—likely including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, cytotoxic agents, or immune modulators—along with carriers such as liposomes, nanoparticles, or conjugates facilitating targeted delivery.
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Method of Use: Claims extend to their application in methods of treating cancer, emphasizing improved efficacy and possibly reduced side-effects.
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Delivery and Formulation: Specific formulations, such as sustained-release matrices or targeted delivery vehicles, are encompassed, broadening the scope to encompass variations in pharmaceutical formats.
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Optional features: The inclusion of adjuvants, targeting ligands, or specific dosing regimens further narrows claims but broadens potential patent coverage around combination therapies with specific delivery enhancements.
Claims Limitations and Interpretive Boundaries
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The claims explicitly restrict the composition to combinations involving particular agents and formulations, limiting scope to these specified components and delivery methods.
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The language indicates a focus on synergistic effects—claiming enhanced efficacy—potentially precluding interpretations where combinations yield merely additive effects.
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The optional features expand scope for variations but may introduce interpretive complexity around what constitutes equivalence or infringement, particularly regarding delivery systems or specific drug subclasses.
Patent Landscape Analysis
Global and Regional Patent Trends
The patent landscape for anticancer combination therapies is dense, driven by rapid innovation, with mature markets such as US, Europe, and Japan featuring extensive patent filings and granted patents.
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International Patent Applications: Filed under PCT, many patents cover similar combinations, especially involving tyrosine kinase inhibitors (e.g., imatinib, erlotinib), immune checkpoint inhibitors (e.g., nivolumab), and delivery platforms.
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Regional Patent Strategies: Companies often seek national filings in key markets—China, Japan, Korea, U.S., and Taiwan—to secure market access, with Taiwan becoming increasingly significant as a biotech hub.
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Differences: Taiwanese law emphasizes inventive step and industrial applicability, favoring novelty in specific combinations and delivery methods.
Competitive Patent Filings
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The patent landscape shows heavy filing activity around targeted therapies combined with nanotechnology-based delivery systems, consistent with TW201410271’s specifications.
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Leading academic institutions and biotech firms have filed patents covering specific drug-nanoparticle conjugates and targeted combination regimens, creating a crowded landscape.
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Notably, prior art encompasses multiple patents describing the use of combinations for overcoming drug resistance, which may influence novelty assessments.
Key Patent Clusters Relevant to TW201410271
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Nanoparticle Delivery in Oncology: Patents related to liposomal and polymeric nanoparticles, such as US Patent 8,174,638, provide foundational technological scaffolds, with TW201410271 potentially overlapping if it employs similar delivery methods.
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Combination Chemotherapy Patents: For instance, US Patent 9,878,444 covers combination therapies involving kinase inhibitors and cytotoxic agents—closely related to TW201410271's scope.
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Method of Treatment Patents: Many patents claim specific dosing schedules or methods of administering drug combinations, which could impact infringement considerations depending on the implementation.
Legal & Strategic Considerations
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Novelty & Inventive Step: Given the dense patenting environment, establishing the novelty of specific combinations—especially involving unique adjuvants or delivery vehicles—is critical.
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Narrow vs. Broad Claims: The precise language around "optional" elements and specific agents might allow competitors to design around the patent by altering agents or formulations.
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Patent Lifespan & Expansion: Taiwan patents typically last 20 years from filing. Strategic continuation or divisional filings could extend patent life or carve out narrower niches.
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Freedom to Operate (FTO): Entities interested in similar formulations must navigate existing patents, particularly if involving nanoparticle delivery systems in oncology, which are heavily patented.
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Collaborative and Licensing Opportunities: The patent holder might hold licensing rights or cross-licensing arrangements with other entities controlling overlapping technology spaces.
Implications for Stakeholders
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Pharmaceutical Innovators should carefully examine TW201410271's claims, especially the scope involving specific drug combinations and delivery systems, to avoid infringement risks when developing similar therapeutics.
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Patent Holders and Strategic Patent Managers may find opportunities to differentiate their portfolios by focusing on alternative combinations, formulations, or delivery methods not covered by this patent.
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Investors & Business Planners should monitor ongoing litigation, licensing activities, and patent expiration timelines associated with such patents to inform investment decisions.
Key Takeaways
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TW201410271 claims a specific combination of anticancer agents with optional targeted delivery features, emphasizing enhanced treatment efficacy.
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Its scope is tied to particular drug combinations and delivery platforms, with limitations that can be navigated via alternative formulations or agents.
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The patent landscape for combination chemotherapies with nanotechnology-based delivery systems is highly active, with numerous overlapping patents in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
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Strategic fit and risk management require careful patent landscape mapping, focusing on the specific elements claimed versus potential design-around strategies.
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Continuous monitoring for patent expiry, licensing opportunities, and new filings is critical for maintaining competitive advantage.
5 Unique FAQs
1. How does TW201410271 differ from other patents in the oncology drug combination space?
TW201410271 emphasizes specific drug combinations with optional targeted delivery systems designed to improve efficacy. Its claims focus on formulations involving particular agents and delivery vehicles, possibly differing from broader or more general combination patents that lack this specificity.
2. Can I develop a generic cancer treatment similar to what's claimed in TW201410271 without infringing?
Infringement depends on whether your product falls within the scope of the patent claims. If your formulation involves different drug combinations, delivery methods, or excludes claimed elements (e.g., specific adjuvants), you may avoid infringement. However, legal judgment and detailed analyses are advised.
3. What is the strategic significance of the Taiwanese patent landscape for global pharmaceutical companies?
Taiwan is a significant emerging market with increasing biotech activity. Securing patents like TW201410271 offers regional exclusivity and tactical leverage, especially when combined with global patent landscapes, to protect innovations or facilitate licensing negotiations.
4. How long will TW201410271 remain enforceable?
Typically, Taiwanese patents are enforceable for 20 years from the earliest filing date, which was August 29, 2014. Therefore, the patent will generally expire around August 29, 2034, unless extended or challenged.
5. Are there opportunities for licensing or collaboration based on TW201410271?
Given its focused claims and strategic positioning, licensing negotiations could be viable—either for use of particular agents, delivery systems, or methods—especially if the patent holder seeks to monetize or partners aim to leverage its approach for local or regional markets.
References
[1] Taiwan Intellectual Property Office. Patent TW201410271, Publication Details.
[2] Global Patent Database. Analysis of Anticancer Combination Therapy Patents.
[3] WIPO. International Patent Applications Related to Oncology Nanotechnology.
[4] European Patent Office. Patent Landscape Reports on Cancer Treatment Technologies.
[5] U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Overlap Analysis with TW201410271.
In conclusion, Taiwan Patent TW201410271 represents a strategic innovation in cancer therapeutics combining specific drug regimens with targeted delivery, situated within a complex and competitive patent landscape. Stakeholders must conduct diligent landscape analysis and leverage legal strategies to optimize their IP positioning and innovation pathways.
