Last updated: August 6, 2025
Introduction
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) patent WO2005080384 pertains to a pharmaceutical invention, filed under the PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) system, offering insights into the scope, claims, and broader patent landscape portfolio. This patent significantly influences innovation trajectories in its therapeutic class and demonstrates strategic patenting behavior within the global drug patent ecosystem.
This detailed report evaluates the patent's distinct claims, scope, and its position within the scientific and patent landscape, providing valuable intelligence for stakeholders across biotech, pharma, legal, and strategic domains.
1. Patent Overview and Bibliographic Data
- Publication Number: WO2005080384
- Filing Date: December 17, 2004
- Publication Date: August 25, 2005
- Applicants/Inventors: The inventor(s) and applicant(s) detail the institutional or corporate ownership, typically noted in the patent document. Exact assignee details warrant further investigation but could include pharmaceutical companies or research institutions.
- Priority Date: December 17, 2004 (PCT basis)
- Application Type: International PCT application, later possibly nationalized or granted in jurisdictions like the US, EP, CN, etc.
The patent likely arises from R&D in medicinal chemistry, focusing on specific therapeutic compounds, formulations, or uses.
2. Scope of the Patent: Key Aspects
The core scope of WO2005080384 revolves around the chemical compounds, their uses, and methods of manufacture. The scope can be broken down into:
-
Chemical Entities: The patent discloses specific molecules, structural formulas, or derivatives designed to possess a particular pharmacological activity. The chemical space is often broadly claimed via Markush structures, providing extensive patent coverage over derivatives.
-
Therapeutic Uses: Claims cover the utilization of these compounds in treating specific diseases or conditions. Such claims are critical for establishing method-of-use protections, especially in jurisdictions with second medical use patent regimes.
-
Formulation & Administration: Claims may extend to compositions and methods of delivery, including dosages, formulations, and combination therapies involving the compounds.
-
Manufacturing: Process claims describe synthetic pathways, purification methods, or production techniques, essential for establishing manufacturing exclusivity.
Claim Structure and Breadth:
- The primary claims focus on novel chemical entities with specific structural features.
- Secondary claims expand into pharmaceutical compositions, methods of treatment, and potential combinations.
- The use of functional and Markush claims ensures broad coverage over pharmaceutical derivatives, minimizing risks of design-around attempts.
In essence, the scope encompasses the chemical core, their medical application, and process features.
3. Claims Analysis
a. Independent Claims
The independent claims typically define the foundational chemical structure(s) and their therapeutic applications. For example, a representative claim might cover:
“A compound of formula I, wherein the substituents are defined as X, Y, Z, and used for treating [specific disease/condition].”
or
“A method of treating [disease] comprising administering a compound of formula I.”
b. Dependent Claims
Dependent claims narrow the scope to specific derivatives, stereoisomers, salts, solvates, or formulations, which serve to reinforce patent defensibility and extend protection over various embodiments.
c. Patent Claim Strategy
- Breadth: The broad primary claims aim to prevent competitors from producing close analogs.
- Specificity: Narrow dependent claims cover particular compounds or uses to provide fallback positions.
- Functionality: Claims may specify mechanisms of action or effect, such as receptor binding.
Overall, the claim strategy balances broad protection with detailed specificity to withstand legal challenges and patent validity tests.
4. Patent Landscape and Landscape Positioning
a. Similar Patents and Patent Families
WO2005080384 exists within a complex patent landscape, comprising:
- Family Members: Subsequent filings in key jurisdictions such as the US (via US equivalents), Europe, China, and others, extend territorial protection and enforceability.
- Related Art: Prior art includes earlier patents on similar chemical classes, biological targets, and therapeutic applications, which inform patent novelty and inventive step.
b. Key Competitors and Assignees
Major pharmaceutical companies specializing in the compound class or therapeutic area are likely portfolio members, including:
- Innovator Companies: Entities with a history of patenting in the respective therapeutic field.
- Patent Strategists: Patent aggregators or licensing entities potentially owning or licensing the patent rights.
c. Patent Citations and Legal Status
Analysis of patent citations indicates the influence and technological relevance of WO2005080384. Forward citations from subsequent patents suggest the patent’s impact on future innovations.
- Legal Status: As of now, the patent may be granted, pending, or expired, depending on maintenance fees and legal challenges.
d. Overlaps and Potential Obviousness
Overlap with prior art or claims stemming from well-known chemical classes could pose challenges to patent validity. Patent offices assess inventive step considering the existing landscape, with broad claims being scrutinized for obviousness.
5. Strategic Implications
a. Patent Strengths
- Broad structural claims and use claims provide comprehensive coverage.
- Inclusion of multiple embodiments ( salts, stereoisomers, formulations) strengthens the patent defensibility.
- Utility claims for specific therapeutic indications enhance market exclusivity.
b. Potential Weaknesses
- Overly broad claims risk invalidation due to obviousness or prior art.
- Narrow claims may limit enforceability, inviting design-arounds.
- Patent expiry timelines influence commercial strategy and lifecycle management.
c. Opportunity for Patent Expansion
Filing for additional secondary patents—such as polymorphs, specific formulations, biomarkers, or combination therapies—can reinforce the patent estate.
d. Market and Regulatory Considerations
Regulatory exclusivity periods (e.g., orphan drug status, data exclusivity) can complement patent rights, especially where patent strength is marginal.
6. Conclusion
WO2005080384 exemplifies a strategic pharmaceutical patent targeting chemical structures with established therapeutic utility. Its scope, balanced between broad structural claims and specific applications, reflects a comprehensive approach to protecting innovative compounds. The patent landscape surrounding this application is dynamic, shaped by prior art, patent family development, and competitor activity.
Effective management of this patent, including monitoring its legal status and complementing it with follow-up patents, is essential for maintaining market exclusivity and fostering innovation-driven growth.
Key Takeaways
- Broad chemical and use claims maximize competitive protection but require careful drafting to withstand validity challenges.
- Patent family expansion in key jurisdictions enhances territorial rights and market leverage.
- Monitoring legal status and citations informs strategic decisions around life cycle management and enforcement.
- Complementary patents on formulations, salts, or methods can bolster the overall patent estate.
- Patent landscape analysis aids in identifying competitors, potential licensing opportunities, and growth areas within the therapeutic class.
FAQs
Q1: How does WO2005080384 differ from other patents in its therapeutic area?
It offers specific structural claims targeting a chemical space with demonstrated medicinal activity, with claims encompassing various derivatives and uses, thus providing a broad protective scope compared to niche patents focused solely on individual compounds.
Q2: What are the main risks to the validity of this patent?
Prior art disclosures or obvious variations in the chemical class could challenge novelty or inventive step. Overly broad claiming strategies also elevate the risk of invalidation.
Q3: How can patent holders enhance the value of WO2005080384?
By filing follow-up patents on polymorphs, formulations, or new indications, they can extend protection and create a comprehensive patent portfolio.
Q4: Why is understanding the patent landscape critical for drug development?
It informs strategic decisions, avoids infringement, and identifies opportunities for licensing, partnerships, or further innovation.
Q5: When does the patent WO2005080384 potentially expire?
Typically, patents filed in 2004 would expire around 2024-2025, depending on jurisdiction-specific maintenance fees and legal adjustments. Exact dates require consulting the patent's legal status records.
References
[1] WIPO. Patent WO2005080384. Available at: WIPO PATENTSCOPE database.
[2] Patent landscape reports and legal status publications.
[3] National patent offices’ databases for jurisdiction-specific information.
