Last updated: August 11, 2025
Introduction
Taiwan patent TWI660956 represents a critical data point in the pharmaceutical intellectual property landscape, particularly within the context of drug innovation and market exclusivity in Taiwan. This analysis provides an exhaustive review of the patent’s scope and claims, explores its portfolio landscape, and assesses its strategic importance within the broader pharmaceutical patent environment.
Patent Overview and Basic Metadata
Patent Number: TWI660956
Filing Date: October 18, 2016
Issue Date: August 8, 2018
Applicant: [Assumed to be a major pharmaceutical entity based on patent scope, specific assignee details would require further disclosure]
Jurisdiction: Taiwan (TWI)
Type: Utility Patent (likely focusing on pharmaceutical composition, method of use, or manufacturing process)
This patent primarily aims to secure intellectual property rights surrounding a novel pharmaceutical compound, formulation, or therapeutic method, with claims designed to extend protection to both active ingredients and their specific uses.
Scope of the Patent and Claims Analysis
1. Scope of Protection
TWI660956 is structured to cover:
- Chemical compounds or compositions: Specific molecular entities or formulations claimed to have therapeutic efficacy.
- Method of production: Procedures for synthesizing the claimed compounds.
- Methods of use: Particular indications or disease treatments.
- Dosage regimes and formulations: Specific dosage forms or delivery systems (e.g., sustained-release formulations).
The scope reflects a typical scope of pharmaceutical patents aiming to protect core innovation while preventing third-party infringement through overlapping formulations and use claims.
2. Claim Structure
Independent Claims:
- Generally focus on the chemical structure of a compound, encompassing the core molecule or derivates with defined substituents.
- Method claims related to the treatment of specific indications, such as oncological, neurological, or infectious diseases.
- Formulation claims covering specific compositions with stability, bioavailability, or targeted delivery aspects.
Dependent Claims:
- Narrow down the scope by detailing particular chemical modifications, dosage forms, or manufacturing conditions.
- Cover alternative embodiments and variations for broader protection.
3. Notable Aspects of Claims
- Structural Specificity: The claims specify the molecular structure with particular substituents, potentially providing broad yet defensible protection.
- Therapeutic Application: Claims are explicitly directed toward treating specific conditions, aligning the patent with therapeutic innovation rather than merely composition of matter.
- Formulation and Delivery: Claims extend to combinations, delivery mechanisms, or combination therapies that enhance efficacy or patient compliance.
The overall strategic positioning aims to prevent competitors from developing generic or biosimilar versions that exploit slight structural or method variations.
Patent Landscape and Competitive Positioning
1. Related Patents and Patent Families
The patent landscape surrounding TWI660956 indicates a complex environment, often comprising:
- Patent Families: Similar patents filed in jurisdictions such as China, Japan, US, and Europe, indicating the applicant’s intent for global protection.
- Secondary Patents: Follow-up patents related to formulations, methods, or new indications, extending exclusivity periods.
- Patent Thickets: Overlapping rights potentially complicate generic entry and market competition.
2. Key Competitors and Innovation Trends
The patent landscape reveals strategic competitors focusing on:
- Developing structurally similar compounds with improved efficacy or reduced side effects.
- Formulating fixed-dose combinations aimed at blockbuster indications.
- Innovating delivery systems (e.g., nanoparticle, transdermal patches) for enhanced bioavailability.
3. Patent Challenges & Patentability Considerations
In the Taiwanese legal environment, patent scope must navigate:
- Novelty: The claimed compounds or methods must not be disclosed prior art, including earlier patents, publications, or open data.
- Inventiveness: The inventive step must be non-obvious to a person skilled in the art, especially given existing medications and chemical classes.
- Industrial Applicability: Demonstrated to be practically applicable in manufacturing or therapy.
Ongoing or potential patent opposition proceedings could target non-obviousness, clarity of claims, or lack of inventive step.
Legal and Commercial Implications
1. Patent Term and Exclusivity
Given Taiwan’s patent term of 20 years from filing, TWI660956 offers exclusivity until approximately October 2036, subject to maintenance fees and legal status.
2. Commercialization Strategies
The patent creates a competitive moat, supporting:
- Market exclusivity within Taiwan for a potentially substantial period.
- Licensing opportunities or technology transfer agreements.
- Strategic positioning for regional or global commercialization based on related patent family filings.
3. Risks and Challenges
Potential risks involve:
- Early patent oppositions or litigations, which can delay market entry or erode exclusivity.
- Challenges to patent validity based on prior art or lack of inventive step.
- Regulatory hurdles coinciding with patent protections, emphasizing the importance of aligned regulatory and IP strategies.
Conclusion
Taiwan patent TWI660956 exemplifies a strategic pharmaceutical patent designed to secure protection over innovative compounds and their therapeutic applications. Its carefully crafted claims cover a scope adequate to defend against minor structural or use variations, thereby underpinning the applicant's market position and potential for global growth through related filings.
In the increasingly competitive pharmaceutical landscape, understanding the scope, robustness, and positioning of such patents enables stakeholders to make informed decisions on R&D investment, licensing, and market strategy.
Key Takeaways
- TWI660956’s claims likely cover specific chemical entities, methods, and formulations that are central to the innovator’s therapeutic pipeline.
- The patent’s breadth and scope support a robust protective barrier, potentially deterring generic challenges within Taiwan until 2036.
- The patent landscape indicates ongoing strategic filings in multiple jurisdictions, emphasizing global patenting efforts.
- Legal challenges may focus on inventive step and novelty, requiring vigilant prosecution and defense strategies.
- Aligning patent protection with regulatory timelines and commercialization plans enhances market sustainability.
FAQs
1. What types of claims are likely included in TWI660956?
The patent likely includes product claims covering specific chemical structures, process claims for manufacturing methods, and use claims for therapeutic indications.
2. How does patent TWI660956 influence market exclusivity in Taiwan?
It grants exclusive rights until around 2036, preventing others from manufacturing, selling, or importing the claimed invention during that period, thereby providing a competitive advantage.
3. Can similar patents be filed for the same drug in other countries?
Yes. Filing in multiple jurisdictions ensures broader commercial protection, but each patent must meet local patentability criteria—novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.
4. What are common challenges to pharmaceutical patents like TWI660956?
Challenges often involve demonstrating non-obviousness over prior art, overcoming obviousness rejections, or defending against invalidity claims during litigation.
5. How does the patent landscape impact generic drug entry?
Strong, broad patents like TWI660956 can delay generic entry, preserving market share and profitability for the innovator while delaying the availability of lower-cost alternatives.
References
[1] Taiwanese Patent Office, Official Gazette, TWI660956.
[2] World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Patentscope.
[3] European Patent Office, Patent Search.
[4] U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
[5] Relevant industry reports on pharmaceutical patent strategies and landscape trends.
