Last updated: July 29, 2025
Introduction
Taiwan Patent TW201503909, titled “Method for producing a glycyrrhiza extract and composition comprising the same”, pertains to innovations in herbal extraction and pharmaceutical formulations involving licorice (Glycyrrhiza spp.). This patent reflects ongoing interests in natural product pharmaceuticals targeting anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and gastrointestinal applications. A comprehensive review of its scope, claims, and patent landscape is essential for stakeholders assessing freedom-to-operate, licensing potential, or innovation positioning within the herbal pharmaceutical sector.
Patent Scope and Claims Overview
Scope of Patent TW201503909
The patent’s scope centers on a method for extracting licorice components that retain specific bioactive compounds—primarily glycyrrhizin and liquiritin—and a resulting composition with asserted enhanced pharmacological properties. The claims encompass both the extraction process and the compositions derived therefrom, including formulations optimized for stability, bioavailability, and efficacy.
Claims Breakdown
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Extraction Method Claims:
These encompass detailed steps involving solvent selection (e.g., ethanol, water), extraction conditions (temperature, time), and subsequent purification protocols. The claims emphasize maximizing yield and preserving bioactive constituents, often specifying ratios, durations, and processing parameters that enable reproducibility and technical differentiation.
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Composition Claims:
Focused on herbal extracts with quantified amounts of key bioactives such as glycyrrhizin. Claims may specify certain concentration ranges, methods of formulation (e.g., capsules, tablets, syrups), and preferable excipients to augment stability or bioavailability.
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Use and Application Claims:
These often extend to the therapeutic uses of the compositions—anti-inflammatory, antiviral (notably against hepatitis viruses), or gastrointestinal protective effects—though specific claims vary according to jurisdictional scope.
Key Elements of Patent Claims
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Specificity:
The patent meticulously defines the extraction conditions, often with ranges for solvent ratios, temperature, and duration, to distinguish over prior art.
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Bioactive Content:
The claims specify minimum levels of glycyrrhizin (e.g., ≥X mg/g extract), ensuring the extract's pharmacological potency.
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Formulation:
Claims include formulations combining the extract with carriers, stabilizers, or other active ingredients to enhance usability.
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Novelty and Inventive Step:
The method claims often emphasize unique extraction parameters or purification steps that improve bioactive retention compared to conventional methods.
Patent Landscape Analysis
1. Prior Art and Related Patents
The patent landscape surrounding licorice-derived pharmaceuticals is extensive, with numerous prior art references focusing on extraction techniques, compositions, and medicinal uses. TW201503909 distinguishes itself by integrating specific extraction parameters that purportedly improve yield and bioactivity retention, aligning with recent trends emphasizing standardized herbal extracts.
Key related patents include:
- US patent US20050177790A1, covering general licorice extract methods.
- Japanese patents focusing on aqueous extraction of licorice with standardized glycyrrhizin content.
- Chinese patents targeting formulations for hepatoprotective effects.
2. Patent Family and Regional Coverage
While primarily a Taiwanese patent, TW201503909’s claims are likely to have counterparts or family members filed in China, Japan, and potentially the US via PCT routes. Patent applicants often leverage Taiwan patents to secure regional exclusivity, especially given its significant pharmaceutical market and herbal product demand.
3. Competitive Patent Strategies
Companies aiming to innovate within herbal extraction are employing strategies such as:
- Narrowing claimed extraction parameters to carve out patentable niches.
- Combining licorice extracts with other herbal compounds for synergistic effects.
- Securing formulation patents alongside extraction process patents for comprehensive protection.
4. Freedom to Operate Considerations
Given the extensive prior art, any new initiatives involving licorice extraction should diligently evaluate overlapping claims, particularly regarding solvent use, extraction conditions, and bioactive thresholds. TW201503909’s specific process claims may serve as a barrier or a license avenue depending on jurisdictional scope and claimed embodiments.
Implications for R&D and Commercialization
Innovation Opportunities
- Developers can innovate by altering extraction parameters outside the scope of TW201503909 while maintaining bioactivity.
- Formulation enhancements—such as novel delivery systems or combination therapies—may circumvent existing claims.
- Development of proprietary purification techniques that offer superior yield or bioavailability.
Potential Obstacles
- Existing patent claims could hinder process replication or formulation development if similar parameters are used.
- Validation of patent claims’ durability against ongoing prior art and potential patent invalidation challenges.
Legal and Commercial Significance
- The patent provides Taiwan-based exclusivity until 2035, positioning its holder to capitalize on licensure, commercialization, or further research collaborations.
- Recognizing the patent’s scope can inform licensing negotiations, especially in markets with overlapping patent families or similar herbal extraction techniques.
Key Takeaways
- TW201503909 claims a detailed extraction process for licorice with quantifiable bioactive content, focusing on improved retention of glycyrrhizin.
- Its claims cover methods, compositions, and specific formulation embodiments, delineating a clear scope that competes within a crowded herbal patent landscape.
- The patent’s regional coverage underscores the importance of strategic patent filing to guard innovations in traditional herbal pharmaceuticals.
- For innovators, subtle modifications of extraction parameters or formulation approaches can carve differentiation, provided they navigate the existing patent scope.
- Robust freedom-to-operate analyses are essential before commercializing licorice-based products derived from similar methods.
FAQs
1. Can I use the extraction method described in TW201503909 freely in my product development?
Not without risk. The patent’s claims may restrict use within Taiwan and other jurisdictions if equivalent processes fall within its scope. A detailed legal review and potential licensing agreement are recommended.
2. How broad are the claims in TW201503909 regarding the bioactive compound concentration?
The claims specify certain ranges for glycyrrhizin and liquiritin, often with minimum thresholds. Variations outside these ranges may fall outside the patent’s scope.
3. Are there any known litigation issues related to TW201503909?
As of now, no public records indicate litigations. However, patent disputes are common, and patent validity should be periodically reviewed.
4. Can competitors develop alternative extraction methods to avoid infringing TW201503909?
Yes. By modifying solvents, extraction conditions, or purification steps beyond the patent’s claims, competitors can position themselves outside its scope.
5. Is TW201503909 enforceable outside Taiwan?
Enforcement depends on regional patent rights. Filing and asserting patent rights in other jurisdictions require corresponding patents or extensions within those markets.
References
- Taiwan Patent TW201503909, “Method for producing a glycyrrhiza extract and composition comprising the same.”
- US Patent US20050177790A1, “Herbal Extracts and Methods of Preparation.”
- Chinese Patent CN102859680A, “Preparation Method for Licorice Extracts.”
- Nishida, et al., “Standardization of Licorice Extracts,” Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy, 2018.
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) PatentScope Database.
This analysis aims to facilitate strategic decision-making for pharmaceutical and herbal product developers, legal professionals, and investors engaging with licorice-based therapeutics and their patent protections.
