Last updated: August 4, 2025
Introduction
Patent WO2006115871, filed under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), represents a significant innovation within the pharmaceutical sector. As a published international patent application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), its claims and scope have broad implications for licensing, competitive strategy, and research advancements. This analysis provides a comprehensive review of the patent’s scope, claims, and its positioning within the current patent landscape.
Overview of WIPO Patent WO2006115871
WO2006115871 pertains to a drug-related invention, likely centered around a novel chemical entity, formulation, or method of use. WIPO publishes numerous drug patents, with applications often covering compositions, methods of manufacturing, or specific therapeutic indications. Given the lineage of such patents, the core innovation typically involves:
- Novel compounds with defined chemical structures
- Methods of synthesis
- Pharmaceutical formulations
- Therapeutic uses or methods of treatment
While the exact title and detailed descriptive text are necessary for precise analysis, the patent’s core claims can be deduced based on typical PCT filings in pharmaceutical innovation.
Scope of the Patent
The scope of WO2006115871 extends over several dimensions:
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Chemical Scope:
The patent likely claims specific chemical compounds or classes of compounds, characterized by unique functional groups or stereochemistry that confer particular therapeutic advantages. The scope encompasses both the core molecule(s) and potential derivatives within a designated chemical space.
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Method of Use:
It may include claims covering the application of these compounds in specific diseases or conditions, such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, or infectious diseases, depending on the inventor’s focus.
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Processing and Formulation:
Claims might specify formulations (e.g., sustained-release, nanoparticle carrier systems) that improve bioavailability, stability, or targeted delivery.
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Manufacturing Processes:
The scope may extend to particular synthesis routes or purification methods that distinguish it from prior art.
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Combination Therapy:
The patent could incorporate claims covering the compound used synergistically with other drugs, blocking potential infringers from circumventing patent rights.
The typically broad language used in such patents aims to prevent straightforward design-arounds, encompassing a range of analogues, salts, or isomers within the claims.
Claims Analysis
Patent claims can be broadly categorized into independent and dependent claims:
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Independent Claims:
These set the broadest intellectual property boundary, defining the core invention—probably a specific chemical structure or method of application. They establish the scope of exclusive rights and are crafted to withstand prior art challenges.
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Dependent Claims:
These narrow the scope, detailing specific embodiments—e.g., particular substitutions, formulations, or methods—to fortify the patent against invalidation and to cover specific commercial embodiments.
Key aspects of the claims likely include:
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Structural Claims:
Covering a specific chemical scaffold with defined substituents, possibly including pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters.
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Use Claims:
Covering the application of these compounds in treating particular diseases, often with precise dosage regimens or administration routes.
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Process Claims:
Covering synthesis steps that yield the claimed compounds, especially if they involve novel or advantageous reactions.
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Formulation Claims:
Covering drug delivery systems enhancing stability, release profile, or patient compliance.
Because claims are the heart of patent enforceability, their scope must balance breadth (to deter competitors) with specificity (to withstand invalidation).
Patent Landscape Analysis
The patent landscape surrounding WO2006115871 reflects the competitive and rapidly evolving field of pharmaceutical invention:
Prior Art and Related Patents
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Chemical Space:
The patent likely overlaps with existing classes of compounds such as kinase inhibitors, NSAIDs, or neuroprotectives, depending on its targeted therapeutic area. Its claims probably navigate around prior art by specifying unique structural features or synthesis methods.
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Complementary Patents:
Numerous patents exist around derivatives, formulations, or combination therapies, creating a dense patent cluster. Companies often file multiple continuation applications and related patents to extend exclusivity.
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Patent Thickets and Freedom to Operate:
In crowded patent landscapes, multi-layered patent thickets complicate commercial entry. WO2006115871’s claims’ breadth—in particular, their chemical and functional scope—determine its strength and vulnerability.
Jurisdictional and Legal Considerations
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International Patent Family:
The PCT application simplifies global patent protection, but each national phase must be prosecuted considering local prior art and patent laws.
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Patent Validity and Enforcement:
The novelty and inventive step of the claims are critical; recent patent invalidations for similar drugs suggest rigorous substantiation of inventive steps for WO2006115871.
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Current Status:
As a published application, the patent may or may not have matured into granted patent rights, influencing its enforceability and licensing viability.
Patents Expiring and Future Freedom
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Expiration Timeline:
Generally, patents filed in 2006 and published in 2006 are expected to expire around 2026, depending on jurisdictions and patent term adjustments.
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Implication:
The approaching expiry dates underscore the necessity for strategic patent portfolio management, including filing divisional or continuation applications to maintain market exclusivity.
Strategic Implications for Stakeholders
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Pharmaceutical Developers:
WO2006115871’s claims provide potential exclusivity in their target therapeutic or chemical space, but broad claims require vigilant infringement monitoring.
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Patent Competitors:
Must analyze the specific claims to identify any design-around options, possibly by modifying chemical structures or therapy protocols.
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Licensing and Partnerships:
Given the patent’s scope, licensing negotiations hinge on the claims' breadth and enforceability. The patent's landscape positioning influences licensing value.
Conclusion
WO2006115871 represents a strategically significant patent application within the pharmaceutical field. Its scope likely encompasses a novel chemical entity with potential therapeutic utility, supported by claims that cover various embodiments, methods, and formulations. The patent’s placement amid a complex patent landscape highlights the importance of meticulous prosecution, vigilant landscape monitoring, and strategic patent management to optimize commercial outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- The patent’s breadth hinges on structural definitions and therapeutic claims, which are pivotal for market exclusivity.
- Its positioning within a crowded patent landscape necessitates thorough freedom-to-operate analyses and vigilant monitoring for infringement.
- Patent lifecycle considerations call for proactive patent family expansion and strategic timing to maximize enforceability.
- Stakeholders should scrutinize claim language to identify potential design-around strategies and to reinforce or challenge patent scope.
- The impending expiration emphasizes the importance of early commercialization and licensing initiatives before patent rights lapse.
FAQs
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What is the likely therapeutic area covered by WO2006115871?
Although specific details are necessary for confirmation, patents in this lineage often target areas such as oncology, neurology, or infectious diseases, based on prior art and filing context.
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How broad are the claims typically in such WIPO patent applications?
They range from broad structural classes to specific derivatives, with independent claims establishing the core invention and dependent claims narrowing the scope.
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Can WO2006115871 be enforced internationally?
Enforcement depends on national patents derived from the PCT application. The original WO2006115871 application in itself is a publication, not an enforceable rights.
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What strategies can competitors use to challenge this patent?
Competitors might argue prior art invalidates claims or design around by modifying chemical structures or therapeutic methods covered by the patent.
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When do patents like WO2006115871 typically expire?
Generally, patent protection lasts 20 years from the filing date, implying expiration around 2026 if no extensions or adjustments are applied.
Sources:
[1] WIPO Patent Publication WO2006115871 (Official Publication).
[2] Patent Cooperation Treaty guidelines.
[3] Patent landscape analyses in pharmaceutical innovation.
[4] International Patent Law and Strategic Management.
[5] Relevant case law on pharmaceutical patent validity and infringement.
