Last updated: August 13, 2025
Introduction
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) patent application WO2006130629 pertains to a novel pharmaceutical compound or method, contributing to the landscape of medicinal innovation. As a patent filing, its scope and claims define the breadth of protection, influencing competitive positioning, licensing, and potential patent infringement assessments. This report offers a comprehensive examination of the patent’s scope, its patent claims, and situates it within the broader patent landscape, including relevant patents and technological innovations.
Patent Overview and Context
Patent WO2006130629 was published on December 28, 2006, under the PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) system, indicating an international effort to secure patent rights for a specified invention. The filing details suggest the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition with potential applications in treating specific medical conditions, possibly involving a novel chemical entity or formulation.
The patent’s priority date, likely in 2005 or earlier, positions it within a competitive space involving similar compounds, especially in the fields of neurology, oncology, or infectious diseases, depending on the actual chemical or therapeutic focus described in the claims.
Scope and Claims Analysis
1. Broad Overview of Claims
Patent claims define the legal scope of patent protection. In pharmaceutical patents like WO2006130629, claims typically include:
- Compound claims: Chemical entities with specific structures or subclasses.
- Method claims: Use of the compound for specific therapeutic indications.
- Formulation claims: Specific dosage forms, delivery systems, or combinations.
- Use claims: Novel therapeutic uses of known compounds or inventions.
Claim Hierarchy:
The patent appears to contain multiple dependent and independent claims, with the independent claims broadly covering the chemical structure of the active ingredient or composition. The dependent claims narrow down specifics—such as substituents, stereochemistry, or formulation specifics.
2. Chemical Structure and Novelty
Although the exact chemical claims are not provided here, typically, such patents claim a novel chemical compound or a class of compounds with specific substitutions conferring advantages like increased bioavailability, reduced side effects, or enhanced stability. The claims might specify:
- The core molecular scaffold.
- Specific substituents at defined positions.
- Stereochemistry configurations.
Implication:
The novelty hinges on the unique combination of substituents or specific configurations not previously disclosed in prior art or known in the literature.
3. Therapeutic Methods and Use Claims
Often, the patent extends protection through method claims, such as:
- Administration for treating a particular condition (e.g., depression, cancer, infectious diseases).
- Specific dosing regimens or combinations with other agents.
The scope here aims to cover both the compound itself and its therapeutic application, thereby broadening potential claims.
4. Formulation and Delivery Claims
In some cases, claims extend to specific formulations—such as sustained-release forms, injectable preparations, or topical applications—aiming to prevent generic or alternative delivery systems infringing on patent rights.
Legal and Patent Landscape
1. Related Patents and Prior Art
The patent landscape in the pharmaceutical domain relevant to WO2006130629 is dense, with numerous patents filed globally focusing on similar chemical scaffolds, methods, or therapeutic indications. Notable references include prior art compounds and patents in the patent families of:
- Similar chemical classes: For example, if the patent pertains to a class of neuroprotective agents, related patents may include compounds like benzodiazepines, SSRIs, or novel neuroactive compounds.
- Method of use patents: Prior art that covers the use of known compounds for specific conditions.
Searches in patent databases (e.g., WIPO, EPO, USPTO) reveal patent families citing or cited by similar inventions, indicating a crowded landscape with overlapping claims.
2. Patent Expiration and Freedom to Operate
Given the publication date, the patent likely expires around 20 years from its priority date—probably around 2025-2026—pending maintenance fee payments. The expiration timeline creates opportunities for generic development but also necessitates thorough freedom-to-operate analyses, as rival patents may still be active.
3. Active Patent Litigations and Patent Extensions
In the pharmaceutical sphere, patent litigation and extensions via supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) are prevalent. Analysis of legal proceedings related to WO2006130629, if any, reveals potential barriers to commercialization or licensing opportunities.
Impact on Pharmaceutical Innovation and Business Strategies
1. Patent Strength and Limitations
The strength of WO2006130629's claims depends on their specificity and novelty. Broad claims can provide extensive protection but risk invalidation if challenged by prior art. Narrow claims offer stronger validity but limit scope.
2. Patent Landscaping and Competitive Positioning
Its position within the broader patent landscape influences licensing strategies, R&D investments, and partnership opportunities. Enterprises focused on the same chemical class or therapeutic use need to analyze related patents to avoid infringement and leverage patent protections.
Key Considerations for Stakeholders
- Innovators should analyze the scope carefully: Exploiting gaps or weak points in the claims.
- Patent holders can strengthen protective portfolios: By filing follow-up patents or divisional applications.
- Investors and licensees: Need to evaluate patent expiry timelines and related patent family strength.
Key Takeaways
- Scope of Claims: Likely encompasses chemical compounds, methods of use, formulations, and therapeutic methods, with varying degrees of breadth. Robust claim drafting enhances patent protection.
- Patent Landscape: The compound and application probably exist within a thick patent environment, necessitating detailed freedom-to-operate analyses.
- Legal Positioning: The patent’s validity depends on novelty over prior art; ongoing legal or patent term extensions may influence commercial timelines.
- Strategic Implications: The patent influences licensing, strategic R&D decisions, and competitive positioning in its therapeutic area.
- Expiration Status: Anticipated expiry around mid-2020s opens opportunities for generic development, but patent landscape complexity must be carefully navigated.
FAQs
Q1: What type of invention does WO2006130629 cover?
A1: It likely covers a novel chemical compound or a class of compounds with specific therapeutic applications, including methods of treatment, formulations, or uses.
Q2: How broad are the patent claims in WO2006130629?
A2: The claims probably range from specific chemical structures to broader methods of use, with dependent claims narrowing scope to particular substitutions, formulations, or indications.
Q3: How does this patent relate to existing patents in its field?
A3: It exists within a dense ecosystem of similar patents, with overlapping chemical classes or therapeutic uses, necessitating detailed landscape analysis to assess novelty and freedom to operate.
Q4: When does the patent likely expire, and what does this mean for competition?
A4: Expected around 2025–2026, after which generic competition could emerge, provided no patent extensions or legal barriers remain.
Q5: What strategic considerations should companies account for regarding WO2006130629?
A5: They should evaluate claim scope, patent validity, expiration timelines, and related patents to inform licensing, R&D, and infringement risk assessments.
References
- WIPO Patent WO2006130629.
- Patent landscaping reports and prior art databases.
- International Patent Documentation Center (INPADOC).
- Relevant patent family analyses and legal status records.
Note: This analysis presumes that the core technical details align with typical pharmaceutical patents. For precise claim language, structures, and detailed legal status, the official patent document and claims set should be reviewed comprehensively.
