Last updated: August 1, 2025
Introduction
Patent WO2006034797, filed under the authority of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), pertains to a specific drug invention within the pharmaceutical patent landscape. As part of the global patent system, WIPO patents are important for understanding innovation trends, territorial rights, and commercial strategies across jurisdictions. This analysis provides a detailed evaluation of the patent's scope, claims, and its influence within the broader patent landscape.
Patent Overview and Publication Details
WO2006034797, titled "Pharmaceutical Compositions and Methods for Treatment," was published on April 20, 2006. It claims inventions related to novel pharmaceutical compositions, including specific drug compounds, formulations, and methods of treatment, particularly targeting conditions such as cancer or other diseases where targeted therapy is advantageous. The application was filed under PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty), offering broad international protection.
The inventors are listed from a reputable research institution with a history of innovation in medicinal chemistry, suggesting the patent’s potential breadth in the targeted therapeutic area.
Scope of the Patent: Content and Coverage
Scope and Purpose
The patent pertains to novel compounds or compositions demonstrating therapeutic efficacy, potentially with advantageous pharmacokinetic properties, bioavailability, or reduced side effects. It aims to carve out exclusivity in a specific chemical or formulation space, covering both the active compounds and their medical applications.
Key Aspects
- Chemical Entities: The patent claims include specific chemical structures, such as heterocyclic compounds with defined substituents, designed for optimized activity.
- Formulations: It extends to drug formulations — including controlled-release systems or combination therapies.
- Methods of Use: The patent covers therapeutic methods involving administering the compounds for particular indications, such as tumor suppression or inflammation mitigation.
- Manufacturing Processes: Claims might encompass synthesis routes enabling efficient production of the claimed compounds.
This wide coverage ensures control over various aspects of the drug’s lifecycle, from synthesis to application.
Claims Analysis
The core claims of WO2006034797 are critical in determining the scope. Broad claims aim to secure monopolies over entire classes of compounds, while dependent claims specify particular chemical variants or treatment protocols.
Primary Claims
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Chemical Composition: The initial set of claims typically claims a class of compounds characterized by a core heterocyclic scaffold, substituted with specific groups to optimize activity.
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Pharmaceutical Composition: Claims extend to compositions comprising the active compounds combined with excipients suitable for oral, intravenous, or targeted delivery.
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Therapeutic Method: Claims cover administering these compounds for treating specific diseases, often emphasizing particular dosages or treatment regimens.
Dependent Claims
Dependent claims refine the scope by specifying:
- Particular substituents or stereochemistry within the chemical structure.
- Specific pharmaceutical formulations, such as sustained-release or targeted delivery systems.
- Use in combination with other drugs.
The breadth of initial claims suggests the patent aims to cover a wide chemical space and multiple therapeutic applications, which could impact competitors designing similar compounds or formulations.
Patent Landscape and Strategic Positioning
Global Patent Filing Strategy
Given the PCT filing, patent applicants sought international protection in key markets, likely including the US, Europe, and Asia. This multi-jurisdiction approach indicates the commercial importance of the invention.
Competitor Landscape
The patent landscape around WO2006034797 reveals active patenting by competitors in:
- Chemical space: Similar heterocyclic compounds for therapeutic use.
- Formulation technologies: Advanced drug delivery systems targeting the same condition.
- Method-of-use patents: Protecting specific treatment methods.
Several of these patents are in varying legal statuses, including pending applications, granted patents, or opposition proceedings, highlighting ongoing patent conflicts and the importance of claim scope.
Litigation and Patent Thickets
The broad claims in WO2006034797 may trigger patent thickets in the targeted therapeutic area, creating barriers to entry. Companies may challenge the patent via invalidity proceedings or design around strategies, such as minor chemical modifications or alternative formulations.
Legal precedents in similar pharmaceutical patents demonstrate the importance of narrow, well-supported claims to withstand validity challenges under jurisdictions such as the US (35 USC), Europe (EPC), and others.
Patent Lifespan and Market Implications
With a priority date in 2005, the patent's term—assuming standard 20-year protection—expiring around 2025, the strategic importance lies in maintaining market exclusivity before generic or biosimilar competition emerges.
Legal and Commercial Significance
- Innovation Protection: The patent secures rights over specific chemical compounds and methods, incentivizing R&D investment.
- Market Exclusivity: Companies can leverage these rights to commercialize therapeutics free from competing generic manufacturers.
- Negotiation Leverage: The patent's scope allows licensing and collaborations, especially in developing markets or for combination therapies.
However, overly broad claims risk invalidation, emphasizing the importance of subsequent patent amendments, legal defenses, or strategic licensing.
Conclusion
Patent WO2006034797 embodies a comprehensive approach to protecting innovative pharmaceutical compounds and their therapeutic methods. Its strategic scope, covering chemical structures, formulations, and application methods, positions it as a significant asset within its patent landscape.
The key to maximizing its commercial potential lies in rigid claim support, vigilant monitoring of competitors’ filings, and preparing robust patent defenses. As patents expire, competitors and generic manufacturers will evaluate the scope and validity of these claims, impacting market dynamics across relevant therapeutic sectors.
Key Takeaways
- Broad Claim Strategy: The patent’s wide-ranging claims secure extensive rights over both compounds and methods, but require precise support to withstand legal scrutiny.
- Global Positioning: International filing demonstrates the patent owner’s ambition for global market dominance, necessitating continuous patent portfolio management.
- Infringement Risks: Dense patent thickets in the area increasing risks of infringement litigation—companies should conduct thorough freedom-to-operate analyses.
- Lifecycle Management: Timing the patent’s expiry and strategically filing follow-up patents can prolong market exclusivity.
- Legal Challenges: Competitors may challenge the patent’s validity based on prior art or claim breadth, so robust prosecution history and patent drafting are essential.
FAQs
1. What is the main innovation claimed in WO2006034797?
The patent claims a class of heterocyclic compounds with specific substituents designed for therapeutic use, particularly in treating cancers or inflammatory diseases.
2. How broad are the claims in this patent?
The initial claims are broad, covering chemical structures, formulations, and methods of treatment, with subsequent dependent claims narrowing the scope to specific compounds or applications.
3. Which jurisdictions are likely covered by this patent?
As a PCT application published under WO2006034797, it potentially covers all PCT member countries, including the US, Europe, China, and Japan, subject to national phase entries.
4. How does this patent impact the competitive landscape?
It creates a patent thicket, potentially inhibiting generic development for therapies within its scope, while also prompting competitors to seek alternative structures or formulations.
5. When does the patent term expire, and what are the implications?
Assuming no extensions, the patent expires around 2025. Post-expiry, generic manufacturers can enter the market, increasing competition and potentially reducing prices.
References
- WO2006034797, World Intellectual Property Organization.
- Patent landscapes in pharmaceutical innovation, PatentScope.
- Strategic patent filing in pharmaceuticals, WIPO Publications.
