Last updated: July 31, 2025
Introduction
Patent WO2012030919, filed under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), pertains to a novel pharmaceutical compound or formulation. As the global patent ecosystem becomes increasingly dense, analyzing the scope, claims, and patent landscape surrounding this patent offers critical insights for stakeholders—including competitors, licensors, and patent strategists—regarding innovation trajectory, infringement risks, and potential licensing opportunities.
Patent Overview and Classification
Patent WO2012030919 was published on March 22, 2012. Its international patent application (PCT) indicates a strategic approach aimed at securing broad protection across multiple jurisdictions. Its classification likely falls within the International Patent Classification (IPC) systems relevant to pharmaceuticals, specifically under:
- A61K: Preparations for medical, dental, or cosmetic purposes.
- A61P: Specific therapeutic activity.
The patent appears to cover a novel chemical entity or a specific formulation, with potential therapeutic indications ranging from metabolic disorders to oncology, depending on the explicit compounds disclosed.
Scope of the Patent
The scope of WO2012030919 encompasses:
- Chemical Composition: Novel compounds with specific structural features, potentially including derivatives, salts, or stereoisomers.
- Pharmacological Use: Claims may specify therapeutic indications such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, or antiviral activities.
- Process Claims: Methods of synthesizing the compound, including specific reaction pathways or purification techniques.
- Formulation and Delivery: Composition claims involving excipients, delivery methods, or dosage forms enhancing bioavailability or stability.
The patent’s abstract and detailed description typically establish a broad platform, with initial claims designed to cover the core inventive compound and subsequent claims narrowing the scope to specific embodiments or uses.
Claims Analysis
The patent’s claims define its legal scope, generally divided into independent and dependent claims.
Independent Claims
- Core Compound Claims: Likely claim the chemical structure(s) with specific substituents, stereochemistry, or salt forms.
- Method of Use Claims: Cover methods of treating particular diseases using the claimed compounds.
- Process Claims: Methods for preparing the compounds or formulations.
These claims aim to establish a proprietary position over both the compounds and their therapeutic applications.
Dependent Claims
- Structural Variations: Specific derivatives, isomers, or salts.
- Methodological Variations: Alternative synthetic routes or different indications.
- Formulation Claims: Aerosol, injectable, or oral dosage forms, possibly with particular excipients.
Claim Breadth and Patentability:
The claims demonstrate an effort to balance breadth with patentability — broad enough to block competitors from similar compounds, yet sufficiently specific to meet novelty and inventive step criteria. For example, claims that cover a class of compounds with a particular core scaffold are common in pharmaceutical patents for strategic coverage.
Patent Landscape and Competitor Analysis
The patent landscape surrounding WO2012030919 is notable for its density, particularly in areas such as:
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Chemical Family and Structural Clusters: Patents originating from major pharmaceutical firms and research institutions often file follow-up patents on derivatives or optimized formulations within the same structural class.
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Therapeutic Area Clusters: The patent family likely overlaps with other patents targeting related therapeutic indications, creating a complex web of overlapping or complementary claims.
Key Competitors and Patent Holders:
Patent families citing WO2012030919 or claiming similar compounds include entities in biopharmaceutical, chemical synthesis, and specialty drug domains. These may include:
- Large multinational pharmaceutical companies.
- Innovative biotech firms focusing on chemical modifications.
- Academic institutions with patented synthesis techniques.
Patent Term and Expiry:
Since WO2012030919 was published in 2012, the patent’s standard fifteen-year term from the earliest filing date suggests potential expiration around 2027-2030, depending on jurisdiction-specific extensions and maintenance fees.
Litigation and Licensing Trends:
Current patent data indicates a likely trend of licensing or strategic cross-licensing within the industry, especially if the compound demonstrates significant therapeutic benefit. However, also possible are litigations by patent holders to defend their claims or challenge competing patents.
Legal Status and Post-Grant Activities
In-depth legal status reveals whether the patent is granted, pending, or subject to oppositions or extensions:
- Granted or Notified: The patent may be granted in key jurisdictions such as the US, Europe, Japan, or China.
- Oppositions or Challenges: Given the strategic importance, competitors may have initiated opposition proceedings, potentially limit or narrow the scope of claims.
- Patent Term Extensions: For drugs with regulatory delays (e.g., regulatory review periods), supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) may extend exclusivity.
Implications for Stakeholders
- Innovators: Should assess whether their compounds infringe on the core structure claimed or explore licensing negotiations.
- Patent Holders: Need to monitor and enforce rights in jurisdictions where the patent is granted or pending.
- Regulators and Legal Strategists: Must consider potential patent barriers to market entry and freedom-to-operate.
Conclusion and Strategic Recommendations
The scope of WO2012030919 is broad, covering novel compounds with declared therapeutic benefits and ways of manufacturing and administering them. Its patent landscape is characterized by overlapping claims, strategic filings in multiple jurisdictions, and active competition in the underlying therapeutic and chemical space.
Key strategic considerations include:
- Monitoring for subsequent filings: Follow-up patents may narrow or expand the protection scope.
- Assessing freedom-to-operate: Investigate related patents in key markets.
- Licensing opportunities: Engage with patent holders, especially in early development phases to mitigate infringement risks.
- Innovation pipeline: Build on disclosed structures or processes to develop non-infringing derivatives.
Key Takeaways
- Broad Claim Spectrum: The patent employs a comprehensive claim strategy to safeguard core compounds, formulations, and uses.
- Active Patent Landscape: Dense filing activity indicates significant commercial importance in the therapeutic space.
- Strategic Patent Positioning: Holders likely intend to defend or monetize the patent through licensing or litigation.
- Timing and PAPs: Patent expiry and extension strategies will influence market exclusivity timelines.
- Informed Decision-Making: Stakeholders must conduct detailed freedom-to-operate assessments aligned with evolving patent landscape dynamics.
FAQs
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What is the significance of the broad claims in WO2012030919?
Broad claims protect core compounds and uses, deterring competitors from developing similar drugs within the claimed scope and enabling better market exclusivity.
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How does the patent landscape surrounding WO2012030919 influence drug development?
A dense patent landscape may create barriers to entry, requiring innovation beyond the patented compounds or licensing negotiations to proceed.
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When does patent WO2012030919 expire, and what could extend its exclusivity?
Assuming standard jurisdictions, expiration could be around 2027–2030. Regulatory delays might enable patent term extensions through mechanisms like SPCs.
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What strategies can competitors employ concerning this patent?
They can develop non-infringing derivatives, challenge the patent’s validity, or seek licensing agreements if the patent covers a valuable therapeutic space.
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How should patent holders protect their rights post-issuance?
By actively monitoring patent statuses, enforcing rights through litigation where necessary, and exploring extensions or secondary patents to prolong market exclusivity.
Sources:
[1] WIPO Patent WO2012030919 Publication Data.
[2] PATENTSCOPE Database.
[3] European Patent Office (EPO) Espacenet.
[4] Patentlandscape Reports on Therapeutic Patents.
[5] World Patent Information Journal on Pharmaceutical Patent Strategies.
