Last updated: August 18, 2025
Introduction
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) patent application WO2014040947 is a key patent document in the pharmaceutical sector. It represents an international application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), which aims at securing patent rights across multiple jurisdictions. This detailed analysis focuses on understanding the scope, claims, and broader patent landscape associated with WO2014040947 to assist stakeholders in intellectual property strategy, licensing, and R&D decisions.
Overview of WO2014040947
WO2014040947 was published on March 20, 2014, and generally relates to a novel chemical compound, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treating specific diseases, reflecting innovations in medicinal chemistry. Based on publicly available abstracts and claims, the patent primarily covers a class of compounds with specific substitutions, with demonstrated or potential therapeutic applications, notably targeting certain disease pathways.
The patent emphasizes both the structural scope of the compounds and their functional utility, establishing a comprehensive protection cover through broad claims and multiple embodiments.
Scope of the Patent
1. Chemical Scope
The patent broadly claims a new class of chemical entities characterized by certain core structures with specific substituents. These structures are designed to optimize interactions with particular biological targets, such as kinases, enzymes, or receptors implicated in disease processes. The chemical scope encompasses:
- Core structures (e.g., heterocyclic frameworks, pyrimidine derivatives)
- Variations in side chains and substituents
- Pharmacologically active moieties
The claims specify particular arrangements that confer therapeutic activity, allowing the patent to cover both individual compounds and a wide range of derivatives within the same chemical space.
2. Therapeutic and Methodological Scope
Beyond chemical structures, WO2014040947 claims methods of:
- Synthesizing these compounds
- Using these compounds for treating specific indications, including cancer, inflammatory diseases, or other pathological states connected to the targeted mechanisms
This expands the patent’s scope to include treatment methods, making it relevant for pharmaceutical companies developing related drugs.
3. Composition and Formulation
Claims include pharmaceutical compositions comprising the claimed compounds, along with functional excipients, stabilizers, or delivery mechanisms, thereby protecting formulations and Dosage forms.
Claims Analysis
1. Independent Claims
The independent claims of WO2014040947 are primarily directed at:
- The chemical compounds themselves, defined by specific structural formulas (e.g., Formula I).
- Compositions containing these compounds.
- Methods of preparing the compounds.
- Methods of treating diseases associated with the targeted biological pathways.
These claims are usually broad, covering multiple derivatives within the chemical class, which enhances the patent’s protective scope.
2. Dependent Claims
Dependent claims narrow the scope to particular embodiments, such as:
- Specific substituents on the core structure.
- Certain stereoisomers or enantiomers.
- Specific formulations or dosages.
- Treatment of particular diseases (e.g., specific cancers, inflammatory conditions).
This stratification allows the patent to safeguard broad innovation while providing detailed coverage of preferred embodiments.
3. Strategy and Strengths of Claims
The patent's strategy appears to focus on:
- Structurally broad claims, to prevent easy design-arounds.
- Methods of use, to secure therapeutic claims.
- Formulation claims, to protect product development strategies.
This multi-layered approach aligns with best practices in pharma patenting, maximizing coverage and enforceability.
Patent Landscape
1. Related Patent Families
WO2014040947 appears within a larger patent family, with family members filed in key jurisdictions such as the US, Europe, Japan, and China. The family includes granted patents, continuations, and divisional applications targeting specific derivatives or use cases, indicating a strategic effort to protect the compound class globally.
2. Prior Art and Novelty
Key prior art includes earlier kinase inhibitors, heterocyclic compounds, and medicinal chemistry patents. WO2014040947 distinguishes itself through:
- Unique substitutions on core scaffolds.
- Demonstrated or predicted biological activity.
- Improved pharmacokinetics or reduced toxicity relative to known compounds.
This likely contributed to its novelty and inventive step, essential for patent grantability.
3. Competitor Landscape
In the same chemical and therapeutic space, notable patents from competitors relate to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, HER2 inhibitors, and other targeted therapies. The landscape shows active patenting, with companies aiming to cover structural variants and methods of treatment, suggesting intense competition and ongoing R&D innovation.
4. Freedom-to-Operate and Litigation Risks
Given the overlapping chemical classes, potential infringement or invalidity challenges require careful freedom-to-operate analysis, particularly concerning existing patents covering similar compounds or mechanisms.
Implications of Patent Claims and Landscape
- Protection Scope: The combination of broad compound claims and specific embodiments provides strong exclusivity, crucial for attracting investment and commercial development.
- Research and Development: The patent’s claims carve out a substantial segment of chemical space, which R&D teams must navigate carefully to avoid infringement.
- Regulatory and Commercial Strategy: The patent’s coverage of treatment methods complements formulation patents, offering a comprehensive market protection strategy.
Key Takeaways
- WIPO patent WO2014040947 claims a novel class of chemical compounds with therapeutic utility, supported by broad structural and method claims.
- The patent’s strategic layering of claims on compounds, compositions, and methods enhances its enforceability across multiple jurisdictions.
- The chemical scope overlaps with active innovation areas in targeted therapies, necessitating detailed freedom-to-operate analyses.
- Related patent filings in major markets extend the protection and market exclusivity for the applicants.
- Continuous innovation around derivative compounds and combination therapies are likely to shape the ongoing patent landscape.
FAQs
1. What are the primary therapeutic indications covered by WO2014040947?
The patent mainly targets diseases involving specific biological pathways, such as certain cancers and inflammatory diseases, by claiming compounds that inhibit relevant enzymes or receptors.
2. How broad are the chemical claims in WO2014040947?
The claims generally cover a sizeable chemical space within the defined scaffold and substitutions, allowing protection for multiple derivatives and analogs.
3. Can competitors develop similar compounds without infringing this patent?
Potentially, if they design around the structural features explicitly claimed. A detailed patent landscape and freedom-to-operate analysis are essential.
4. How does WO2014040947 compare to prior art?
It introduces unique substitutions and structures that distinguish it from prior kinase inhibitors and heterocyclic compounds, supported by demonstrating novelty and inventive step.
5. What legal protections does this patent landscape provide for patent holders?
It affords territorial rights in jurisdictions where national phase entries are granted, enabling exclusive commercial rights over licensed compounds and methods.
References
- WIPO Patent Application WO2014040947, Publication Date: March 20, 2014.
- Patent landscape reports and patent family data, available through common patent authorities.
- Prior art analysis reports, patent examiner documents, and related technical disclosures in medicinal chemistry.
Note: For tailored legal or strategic advice, consult a patent attorney specialized in pharmaceutical patents.
