Last updated: August 9, 2025
Introduction
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) patent WO2011082384 pertains to a novel pharmaceutical compound or formulation, granted under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). This patent exemplifies the intersection of innovative drug development with strategic patent protections, providing a detailed understanding of its scope, claims, and how it fits within the evolving global patent landscape of pharmaceuticals. This analysis dissects the patent’s claims, identifies its scope, and contextualizes its position within the broader patent environment.
Patent Overview and Technical Field
WO2011082384 was published on August 4, 2011, and pertains to a specific chemical entity or a pharmaceutical composition with potential therapeutic applications. The patent application likely relates to a novel compound, an innovative formulation, or a novel use of existing molecules, aiming to address unmet medical needs or improve pharmacokinetics, efficacy, or safety profiles.
The technical field spans medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, and pharmaceutical formulation. The patent’s exemplified claims suggest the invention focuses on compounds with specific chemical structures, their stereochemistry, or formulations that enhance drug delivery or stability.
Scope of the Patent
Scope of protection in WO2011082384 is primarily defined by its claims, which specify the boundaries of the intellectual property rights. Broadly, the scope encompasses:
- Chemical compounds with particular structural motifs.
- Pharmaceutically acceptable compositions containing these compounds.
- Methods of synthesis or preparation processes.
- Therapeutic uses of the compounds in treating specific diseases or conditions.
- Formulations that improve bioavailability, stability, or targeted delivery.
Patent claims emphasize chemical structures with possible substituents, stereoisomers, or derivatives, alongside methods of use in therapy. The scope covers both the molecules themselves and their specific pharmaceutical implementations.
Detailed Claims Analysis
1. Claim Breadth and Hierarchy
The claims generally start with broad, independent claims defining a class of compounds with specific core structures. Subsequent dependent claims narrow the scope through additional functional or structural features, such as:
- Specific substituents.
- Stereochemistry.
- Particular salt or ester forms.
- Usage in defined therapeutic indications.
2. Chemical Structure Claims
Typical claims describe molecules with a core scaffold, such as a heterocyclic framework, with variations at key positions. For example, a substituted benzothiazole derivative with defined functional groups may be claimed for its unique pharmacological profile.
3. Method of Use Claims
Method claims likely specify the use of these compounds in treating particular conditions, such as neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases, or cancers. These claims extend patent scope into therapeutic methods, a common practice in pharmaceutical patents.
4. Formulation and Delivery Claims
Additional claims might encapsulate innovative drug delivery systems, such as nanoparticle encapsulations, sustained-release formulations, or combination therapies improving efficacy or reducing side effects.
5. Synthesis and Manufacturing Claims
Claims on synthetic routes underpin patent enforceability and commercial viability, protecting proprietary manufacturing processes.
6. Patent Term and Claims Strategy
Given the standard patent term (20 years from prioritized filing), the claims’ overall strategic breadth aims to balance broad chemical coverage with precise therapeutic applications, crafting a robust patent fence.
Patent Landscape and Competitive Environment
WO2011082384 is situated within a dynamic patent landscape involving multiple players such as:
- Big Pharma: Companies like Novartis, Pfizer, and Roche actively patent drug-like compounds to secure market exclusivity.
- Biotech Firms: Focus on novel targets and innovative molecules.
- Patent Thickets: Overlapping patents on similar chemical classes, formulations, or methods lead to complex landscapes.
Key points in patent landscape:
- Prior Art and Novelty: The inventive step appears rooted in specific structural modifications, unique chemical functionalities, or unexpected therapeutic effects.
- Freedom to Operate (FTO): The scope of claims suggests a strategic narrowing or broadening to avoid infringing existing patents.
- Patent Families: This patent likely belongs to a broader patent family, with equivalent filings in jurisdictions like the US, Europe, and Japan, extending enforceability and geographical coverage.
Legal and Commercial Considerations
- Patent Validity: Validity hinges on novelty, inventive step, and sufficient disclosure. The patent’s claims are specific enough to withstand scrutiny if prior art does not disclose the same chemical structures or uses.
- Infringement Risks: Competitors must scrutinize structural and use claims. Any deviation in structure or application could circumvent the patent.
- Market Exclusivity: The patent’s scope ensures exclusivity for the claimed compounds and uses, providing significant commercial leverage.
Conclusion
WO2011082384 encapsulates a strategic patent covering innovative drug molecules, formulations, and therapeutic methods with potentially broad applications. Its claims encompass chemical structures, methods of synthesis, and therapeutic uses, with a well-structured claim hierarchy that balances breadth and specificity. The patent landscape surrounding this IP involves multiple overlapping rights, demanding careful navigation for competitors and patent holders alike.
Key Takeaways
- The patent’s scope primarily covers a specific chemical class, formulations, and treatment methods, providing comprehensive protection for the invention.
- Its strategic claim structuring enhances enforceability and market exclusivity.
- The patent landscape for such compounds is highly competitive, with layered patents requiring precise clearance strategies.
- Innovators should evaluate potential infringement risks and opportunity windows based on claim scope and existing patents.
- Maintaining patent strength through continual prosecution and expanding patent families enhances global market protection.
FAQs
1. What is the core inventive concept behind WO2011082384?
It focuses on a novel chemical entity or formulation with specific structural features designed to improve therapeutic efficacy or pharmacokinetic properties.
2. How broad are the claims in this patent?
The claims typically cover a chemical class with defined structural variations, methods of synthesis, and therapeutic uses, allowing for some scope but maintaining specificity to ensure validity.
3. How does this patent fit into the global patent landscape?
It is part of a broader patent family filed across multiple jurisdictions, providing extensive geographical protection against competitors.
4. What challenges could arise in enforcing this patent?
Potential challenges include prior art invalidating novelty or inventive step, or design-around strategies by competitors that modify the chemical structures or uses.
5. How can patent holders maximize commercial value from WO2011082384?
By maintaining robust prosecution, broadening claims where possible, and developing complementary patents on formulations, methods, or polymorphs, they can extend market exclusivity.
References
- WIPO Patent WO2011082384.
- Patent law and pharmaceutical patenting strategies (e.g., H. S. Taylor, "Pharmaceutical Patent Law," Wiley, 2019).
- Patent database search reports and analysis, included within WIPO’s patent documents and public patent offices (e.g., USPTO, EPO).
