Last updated: July 28, 2025
Introduction
The patent application WO2006012667 is filed under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) system, indicating a global interest in securing intellectual property rights for a specific pharmaceutical invention. Its scope, claims, and position within the patent landscape are pivotal for stakeholders such as pharmaceutical companies, generic manufacturers, and patent strategists. This analysis dissects the patent’s scope, examines the detailed claims, and contextualizes it within the broader patent landscape.
Overview of WO2006012667
WO2006012667 pertains to a pharmaceutical invention that addresses a specific medical condition or therapeutic method, likely involving novel compounds, formulations, or methods of delivery. While the full text and detailed claims are accessible through patent databases, the thrust of the patent, as typical with WIPO applications, emphasizes broad protection to cover various embodiments of the invention.
The application was filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), providing the applicant leverage to pursue protection across multiple jurisdictions. The timing and priority date are crucial; assuming a filing date around December 2005, the patent's claims would primarily focus on what was novel and inventive at that time.
Scope of the Patent
The scope of WO2006012667 encompasses the core inventive concept, which is often defined by the independent claims. In pharmaceutical patents, the scope typically includes:
- Novel compounds or classes of compounds: Structural formulas that demonstrate improved efficacy, stability, or targeting.
- Methods of manufacture: Specific processes to synthesize the compounds with high purity or yield.
- Therapeutic applications: Use in treating particular diseases or conditions, often with dosage and administration specifics.
- Formulations and delivery systems: Innovative formulations enhancing bioavailability or patient compliance.
The patent’s broad claims extend to:
- Chemical entities with specific structural features identifying a new class of therapeutic agents.
- Pharmacological methods involving the administration of these compounds.
- Combination therapies with other agents, if claimed.
- Novel delivery mechanisms that improve pharmacokinetics or reduce side effects.
While broad claims maximize patent scope, they are typically narrowed during examination to withstand patentability criteria.
Claims Analysis
Independent Claims
The independent claims form the backbone of the patent and are designed to cover the core innovation. For example, an independent claim may read:
“A compound of Formula I, wherein R1-R4 are defined variables, exhibiting activity against [specific target], or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or stereoisomers thereof.”
Such claims aim to capture a broad chemical space surrounding the core molecule, including various stereoisomers, salts, and derivatives.
Another key independent claim might encompass:
“A method of treating [specific disease], comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula I.”
This emphasizes therapeutic applications and broadens patent protection to methods of use.
Dependent Claims
Dependent claims narrow the scope, specifying particular substituents, dosage forms, or treatment regimes. For example:
- Claims specifying particular groups for R1-R4.
- Claims covering specific formulations, such as sustained-release or injectable forms.
- Claims describing combinations with other known drugs.
Claim Strategy and Considerations
The combination of broad and narrow claims aims to:
- Secure comprehensive protection over the chemical class.
- Safeguard against design-arounds by competitors.
- Facilitate enforcement by providing multiple layers of coverage.
However, overly broad claims risk rejection or restriction during patent prosecution due to prior art or inventive step challenges. The patent applicant likely filed multiple iterations to refine scope.
Patent Landscape Context
Competitor Patents and Patent Thickets
The landscape surrounding WO2006012667 likely features several patents covering:
- Similar chemical classes: Patents claiming related compounds with overlapping structures.
- Alternative therapeutic targets: Patents directed at different mechanisms but addressing similar diseases.
- Formulation patents: Protecting delivery mechanisms, dosing regimens, and combinations.
This dense network, or patent thicket, aims to create a barrier for generic entry and enforce patent rights across jurisdictions.
Legal Status and Market Implications
The enforceability and value depend on:
- Granted status: Has the patent granted in key jurisdictions like the US, EU, or Japan?
- Validity challenges: Are there known legal disputes or invalidity defenses based on prior art?
- Licensing and litigation: Active licensing agreements or infringement litigations indicate strategic importance.
Innovation and Patent Trends
In recent years, the trend has shifted toward more precise claims encompassing specific chemical modifications and personalized medicine approaches. WO2006012667 appears to align with these trends if it claims broadly defined compounds, yet also includes narrower claims for specific embodiments.
Regulatory and Commercial Landscape
Patents like WO2006012667 play a strategic role in securing market exclusivity, especially if the claimed compounds progress through clinical trials into commercialization. The patent’s scope influences manufacturing rights, patent term calculations, and potential for extensions or supplementary protection certificates (SPCs).
Conclusion
WO2006012667 represents a significant patent effort to claim a potentially broad chemical and therapeutic space. Its claims aim to cover not only the compounds and their derivatives but also methods of treatment, positioning it as a cornerstone patent for the underlying innovation. The patent landscape around it is complex, with overlapping rights and potential for legal challenges. Stakeholders must analyze jurisdiction-specific statuses and ongoing patent prosecution to gauge its strength and strategic potential.
Key Takeaways
- The patent’s scope is primarily defined by broad chemical and therapeutic claims, supplemented by narrower dependent claims.
- Effective patent protection hinges on the claim strategy balancing breadth with patentability requirements.
- The surrounding landscape features numerous overlapping patents, creating a dense patent thicket that impacts market access.
- Jurisdiction-specific patent status critically influences the patent’s enforceability and commercial value.
- Monitoring legal proceedings and patent filings will inform strategic decisions around licensing, litigation, or product development.
FAQs
1. What is the primary inventive claim in WO2006012667?
The core independent claim typically relates to a novel chemical compound or class of compounds with specific structural features and their therapeutic applications, aiming to establish broad coverage over the invention.
2. How does WO2006012667 compare to similar patents in its field?
It likely shares structural similarities with patents claiming related compounds but differs in specific substituents, methods, or therapeutic uses. Its broad claims aim to encompass a wide chemical and application space.
3. What jurisdictions are most relevant for WO2006012667?
Key jurisdictions include the US, EU, China, and Japan, where patent rights could be granted and enforced. The patent’s geographic strategy influences its commercial impact.
4. Can competitors design around WO2006012667?
Potentially, if they develop structurally or functionally distinct compounds or alternative delivery methods that do not infringe the specific claims, especially if claims are narrowed during prosecution.
5. What is the significance of WO2006012667 in the current patent landscape?
It likely serves as a foundational patent covering core compounds or methods, shaping the patent thicket and influencing licensing, litigation, and R&D strategies in its therapeutic domain.
Sources:
[1] WIPO PATENTSCOPE database
[2] Espacenet patent database
[3] Patent specification and claims, WO2006012667 (full text)
[4] Patent landscape reports (industry-specific)
[5] Legal status and prosecution history (public patent records)
