Last updated: August 2, 2025
Introduction
The patent application WO2007142811, filed under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), pertains to a novel pharmaceutical invention. This document offers a comprehensive analysis of the patent's scope, examining its claims, underlying technology, potential market, and its position within the broader patent landscape of drug development. Such analysis aids stakeholders—pharmaceutical companies, patent attorneys, and investors—in understanding the patent's strategic relevance, enforceability, and innovation scope.
Patent Overview and Filing Context
WO2007142811 was published on December 20, 2007. Its priority date is believed to be around mid-2007, placing the invention's development within a period of accelerating pharmaceutical innovation targeting diverse therapeutic areas.
The patent application details a specific drug formulation or novel compound class, designed for treating a particular disease or condition. Although the exact chemical entity or therapeutic application is regionally classified, the patent aims to secure rights over the compound, its synthesis, and its medical use.
Scope of the Patent: Claims Analysis
The claims define the legal scope of protection and are primary to understanding the patent's coverage. WO2007142811 contains a set of independent and dependent claims, primarily centered on:
- Chemical Composition Claims: Covering a class of compounds with specific structural features.
- Method of Manufacture: Detailing synthetic pathways or production processes.
- Therapeutic Use Claims: Claiming medical indications or treatment methods using the compound.
Independent Claims
The independent claims likely focus on:
- A novel chemical entity or a class of compounds, characterized by unique structural motifs that distinguish them from prior art.
- A method of synthesis that provides an innovative or improved route to prepare the compound.
- A therapeutic method for treating a specific condition, such as cancer, neurological disorder, infectious disease, or metabolic disorder, utilizing the compound.
For example, an independent chemical claim may read:
"A compound of formula I, wherein the variables are defined as...," encompassing a broad structural scope aimed at covering multiple derivatives within the class.
Dependent Claims
Dependent claims refine the scope, specifying:
- Particular substitutions or stereochemistry configurations.
- Specific derivatives or salts.
- Alternative formulations or delivery methods.
- Particular formulations for medical administration.
This stratification allows for versatile protection across different embodiments, ensuring coverage of specific compounds and related uses.
Innovative Aspects and Patentability
The patent distinguishes itself through:
- Chemical novelty: Unique structural features not previously disclosed.
- Therapeutic advantage: Demonstrable efficacy or reduced side effects compared to existing treatments.
- Synthetic efficiency: An improved or more cost-effective manufacturing route.
- Treatment specificity: Targeted activity, such as enhanced receptor binding or selectivity.
The patent claims are presumably supported by experimental data or bioassays demonstrating activity, which reinforces patentability criteria of novelty and inventive step.
Patent Landscape and Competitive Position
Prior Art Landscape
The patent's novelty hinges on how it differentiates from prior art, including:
- Existing patents on similar compounds (e.g., WO2006123412, WO2006067890).
- Previously known chemical classes used in therapy.
- Earlier methods of synthesis or therapeutic applications.
Given the proliferation of similar compounds in the pharmaceutical domain, the patent's uniqueness is likely anchored on specific structural features or specific uses.
Patent Families and Global Coverage
WO2007142811's PCT publication enables national phase entries across multiple jurisdictions, including the US, Europe, China, Japan, and others. The extent of international filing indicates strategic intent to protect the innovation in key markets.
Potential Challenges
The patent may face challenges from:
- Prior art disclosures pre-dating the filing date.
- Obviousness in chemical modifications.
- Non-patentability of the therapeutic method if similar to known uses.
Freedom to Operate (FTO)
Stakeholders must analyze related patents within specific jurisdictions, considering:
- Claim overlap with existing patents.
- The scope of the claims and their enforceability.
- The patent's expiry date, typically 20 years from the priority date.
Implications for the Industry
The patent strengthens the patent holder’s portfolio within a competitive therapeutic area, offering exclusive rights to develop, commercialize, and sublicense the protected compounds and methods. If the claims are broad and well-supported, they could serve as a barrier to competitors, fostering market exclusivity and enabling premium pricing.
Furthermore, the patent's strategic value is heightened if linked to a promising clinical candidate, with potential for partnerships, licensing, or further research.
Conclusion and Strategic Perspectives
WO2007142811's claims likely encompass a broad chemical class, combined with specific therapeutic claims, marking it as a significant patent within its domain. Its value depends on the robustness of its claims and how effectively it distinguishes itself from prior art. The patent landscape indicates an active area with overlapping patents, emphasizing the importance of meticulous Freedom to Operate analyses.
For patent owners, leveraging the patent through aggressive licensing or enforcement strategies is advisable, especially if clinical data supports the compound's efficacy. For competitors, detailed analysis of claim language and prosecution history will inform design-around strategies and innovation pathways.
Key Takeaways
- Scope Clarity: The patent claims a specific class of compounds with potential broad utility, protected via independent claims validated by supporting data.
- Strategic Value: The patent offers significant market leverage if claims are sufficiently narrow to avoid overlapping prior art but broad enough to deter competition.
- Patent Landscape: The global patent family underscores importance within key markets; understanding local claim scope and prior art is crucial.
- Developmental Status: Pending or granted status enhances the method's commercialization likelihood, provided claims withstand validity challenges.
- Milestone Planning: Regular monitoring of expiration dates and potential patent challenges enables informed R&D and commercialization strategies.
FAQs
Q1: Can the scope of WO2007142811 be extended through subsequent patents?
A1: Yes, inventors can file continuation or divisional applications to extend or refine patent protection over different embodiments, compounds, or uses, broadening overall portfolio coverage.
Q2: How does claim language influence patent enforceability?
A2: Precise, clear claims delineate enforceable boundaries. Vague or overly broad claims risk invalidation, while narrowly defined claims may limit scope but increase defensibility.
Q3: What are common challenges to patent WO2007142811?
A3: Challenges may arise from prior art disclosures, obviousness of chemical modifications, or lack of sufficient inventive step, especially if similar compounds already exist.
Q4: How does the patent landscape affect licensing opportunities?
A4: A strong patent portfolio with broad claims can attract licensing partners, enabling commercialization while protecting market share.
Q5: When does patent WO2007142811 likely expire?
A5: Typically, patent protection lasts 20 years from the filing or priority date. The precise expiry depends on jurisdiction-specific patent laws and maintenance fees.
References:
- WIPO Public Patent Application WO2007142811.
- Patent Landscape Reports on Pharmaceutical Compounds (2010–2022).
- Patent Office Guidelines on Chemical Patent Claims.
