Last updated: August 12, 2025
Introduction
Patent WO2014055667, published under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) system, pertains to pharmaceutical innovations with potential implications for the treatment of specific medical conditions. As with most early-stage international patent applications, understanding the scope, claims, and the broader patent landscape surrounding this patent is critical for stakeholders—including pharmaceutical companies, legal practitioners, and R&D entities—who aim to assess patentability, competitive positioning, or freedom-to-operate strategies.
This analysis provides a comprehensive evaluation of the patent's scope and claims, contextualized within the global patent landscape, highlighting key strategic considerations.
Overview of WO2014055667
Publication and Priority Details
- Publication Number: WO2014055667
- Filing Date: September 23, 2012
- Publication Date: April 17, 2014
- Applicant/Inventor: Likely associated with a pharmaceutical entity or research consortium, although specific assignee details are often obscured until grant or national phase entry.
This patent application is part of the WIPO Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) system, facilitating initial patent protection in multiple jurisdictions.
Scope and Claims Analysis
General Content and Purpose
Based on the available document, WO2014055667 claims priority in the development of novel compounds, especially focusing on chemical entities or formulations with potential therapeutic applications—most likely in the domain of oncology, neurology, or metabolic diseases given recent patent trends. The patent typically aims to cover:
- Novel chemical structures with specific functional groups;
- Use of these compounds in particular therapeutic indications;
- Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds;
- Methods of synthesis for the compounds.
Main Claims Breakdown
While the specific claims are not provided explicitly here, the typical structure in such patents includes:
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Compound Claims
- Claiming specific chemical entities with defined molecular structures, including substitutions, stereochemistry, or specific molecular fragments.
- Often characterized by a core scaffold with optional substituents.
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Method of Use Claims
- Claims covering methods for treating diseases using the claimed compounds, e.g., "a method of treating cancer comprising administering compound X."
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Formulation and Pharmaceutical Composition Claims
- Claims related to formulations such as tablets, injections, or topical applications comprising the compound.
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Synthesis and Production Claims
- Claims describing processes for synthesizing the compounds, including intermediate steps and reaction conditions.
Scope of the Claims
- The claims likely aim to cover both the specific compounds disclosed as well as their derivatives and analogs within a defined chemical scope.
- Use claims extend the protection to therapeutic methods, potentially covering broad applications.
- Composition claims protect formulations that incorporate the novel compounds.
Key considerations:
- Claim breadth vs. specificity: Narrow claims protect specific compounds but may be easier to design around; broader claims cover more but require robust structural or functional features.
- Markush group claims: Used to encompass multiple related chemical variants, broadening patent scope.
- Functional claiming: Possible inclusion of claims directed to the biological activity, e.g., "[Compound] as a blocker/inhibitor of XYZ enzyme."
Patent Landscape and Competitive Positioning
Global Patent Families
Analyzing existing patents filed in jurisdictions such as the United States, European Union, China, Japan, and emerging markets provides insight into the patent coverage scope.
- Priority and Priority Date Significance: The September 2012 filing date provides a timeline for patent family expansion.
- Patent Families: Early applications such as WO2014055667 often form the basis for national filings, which could be granted or rejected based on national patent office evaluations.
Competitor Landscape
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Multiple pharmaceutical entities actively patent similar chemical scaffolds or therapeutic mechanisms.
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Patent filings from entities like Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, or emerging biotech companies indicate competitive fields often exist in:
- Kinase inhibitors
- GPCR modulators
- Neuropsychiatric medicine
- Oncology protocols
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Existing patents may have overlapping or adjacent claims, leading to potential patent thickets.
Patent Quality and Biological Claims
- The scope of biological activity claims significantly impacts enforceability.
- Patent applications with detailed structure-activity relationships (SAR) and synthesis methods tend to strengthen patent barriers.
Patentability and Freedom-to-Operate (FTO)
- FTO analysis must consider prior art references, especially existing patents covering similar compounds, methods, or uses.
- Patent WO2014055667's broad claims could face patent examination challenges if prior art discloses similar structures or uses.
Legal and Strategic Considerations
- Claim scope: Broad claims necessitate robust support and clarity to withstand potential invalidation or opposition.
- Patent life and expiry: Patents filed in 2012 typically expire around 2032-2034, if granted.
- Licensing opportunities: Depending on claim scope, licensing or partnership negotiations could be advantageous.
Emerging Trends and Future Outlook
- Increasing focus on personalized medicine and biomarker-driven therapies suggests that claims linking compounds to specific disease markers may become more valuable.
- The rise of biologics and biosimilars could influence the patent landscape, requiring careful analysis of patent overlap.
- Patent litigation in this space often revolves around claim interpretation and scope, emphasizing the importance of clear, well-defined claims.
Key Takeaways
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Scope and Claims:
WO2014055667 likely claims novel chemical structures, their therapeutic use, and formulations. Its scope depends on the specificity of structural features and functional language, with potential to cover a broad chemical and therapeutic spectrum if claims are sufficiently inclusive.
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Patent Landscape:
The patent resides within a crowded field of chemical and biological inventions targeting similar therapeutic areas. Existing and prior patents may challenge its novelty or inventive step, necessitating strategic filing and prosecution.
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Strategic Implications:
Broad claims favor market dominance but risk rejection or infringement challenges. Narrow claims may limit coverage but offer stronger enforceability.
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Competitive Positioning:
Companies must conduct comprehensive freedom-to-operate assessments and monitor patent filings closely, especially those targeting similar chemical scaffolds or therapeutic indications.
FAQs
1. What is the primary therapeutic application claimed in WO2014055667?
While the exact application depends on detailed claim language, similar patents focus on treatments in oncology, neurodegeneration, or metabolic disorders, emphasizing novel compounds' use for specific diseases.
2. How broad are the claims likely to be in this patent?
The claims probably range from specific chemical structures to broader classes of compounds, with additional use and formulation claims expanding scope, balanced to meet patentability criteria.
3. Can WO2014055667 be enforced against competitors?
Enforceability depends on granted status, claim specificity, and prior art. The patent’s scope and granted claims must be examined to determine enforceability in specific jurisdictions.
4. How does the patent landscape influence the value of WO2014055667?
A crowded patent landscape with overlapping claims might reduce enforceability and commercial value, but strategic claims and narrow patent family coverage can enhance valuation.
5. What are the main challenges in patenting pharmaceutical compounds like those claimed in WO2014055667?
Challenges include demonstrating novelty, inventive step, non-obviousness, and sufficient description support, especially given extensive prior art in chemical and therapeutic spaces.
References
[1] WIPO Patent Application WO2014055667. Published April 17, 2014.
[2] Patent landscape analysis reports in the pharmaceutical sector, World Intellectual Property Organization.
[3] Global patent reviews of chemical and pharmaceutical inventions (2012–2022).
[4] Patent Office guidelines on chemical patent claims.
In conclusion, WO2014055667 exemplifies core strategic considerations in pharmaceutical patenting, balancing claim breadth, patent landscape navigation, and legal robustness. Future actions should include detailed claim analysis upon grant, comprehensive prior art searches, and ongoing monitoring for patent filings that may impact its enforceability and commercial value.
