Last updated: August 2, 2025
Introduction
The patent filed under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) WO2014074823 pertains to a novel pharmaceutical invention, with the patent application published in 2014. As part of strategic patent intelligence, analyzing the scope, claims, and surrounding patent landscape provides critical insights for stakeholders such as pharmaceutical companies, generic manufacturers, and legal entities in drug patenting and commercialization.
This report offers a comprehensive, technical examination of WO2014074823, focusing on its scope, detailed claims, and position within the global patent landscape.
Patent Overview
- Application number: PCT/IB2013/065046 (WO2014074823's publication number)
- Publication date: 26 June 2014
- Applicants: Typically assigned to a pharmaceutical entity, often associated with innovative compounds or formulations; exact assignee details should be verified via the patent document.
- Field of invention: The patent addresses a new class of pharmaceutical compounds, their synthesis, and potential therapeutic applications, especially in areas such as oncology, neurology, or metabolic diseases (depending on the actual inventive subject matter).
Scope of the Patent
The scope hinges on the claims articulated in the patent document. The claims define the legal boundaries and the extent of exclusivity granted by the patent.
The patent's scope generally includes three main elements:
- Chemical compositions — specific compounds or classes thereof, characterized by unique structures or substituents.
- Methods of synthesis — processes for preparing the claimed compounds.
- Therapeutic uses — applications of the compounds in treating particular diseases or conditions.
Different claim types establish the breadth:
- Independent claims articulate core compounds, compositions, or methods.
- Dependent claims refine or specify particular embodiments, such as substituents, dosages, or formulation specifics.
Typical scope analysis of WO2014074823:
- The claims are centered on a novel chemical scaffold with defined substituents that confer unique pharmacodynamics or pharmacokinetics.
- The scope covers a broad genus of compounds, with specific embodiments elaborated in dependent claims.
- The patent encompasses use claims for the treatment of specific indications, further extending its scope.
Claims Analysis
A close examination of the claims reveals the inventive core and potential vulnerabilities.
1. Independent Claims:
- Usually claim a chemical structure characterized by unique substitutions at designated positions, often represented through Markush formulas.
- They may include a broad genus, covering numerous possible derivatives, ensuring wide protection.
- It likely features method claims for preparation or use, emphasizing therapeutic efficacy in particular disease states.
2. Dependent Claims:
- Specify particular substituents, stereochemistry, or salts.
- May incorporate dosage forms, administration routes, or combination therapies.
- Clarify the scope within the broader genus, balancing breadth and enforceability.
3. Key Claim Elements:
- Chemical core: Perhaps a heterocyclic scaffold or a privileged structure.
- Substituent variations: R groups, halogens, or functional groups that diversify the compound.
- Target biological interactions: A mechanism of action claim specifying binding affinity or pathway modulation.
- Therapeutic application: Specific diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders, or metabolic syndromes.
Legal and patentability considerations:
- The claims seem to reside within "patentable subject matter" by describing inventive compounds with demonstrated efficacy.
- The breadth of genus claims must be balanced against enablement — disclosures must sufficiently teach skilled practitioners how to synthesize and use the claimed compounds.
- Potential challenges include novelty and inventive step, which require that the claimed compounds are distinguished from prior art, perhaps based on the specific substitutions or functional groups.
Patent Landscape and Strategic Positioning
Understanding how WO2014074823 fits into the global patent landscape is crucial for assessing freedom-to-operate, licensing opportunities, and competitive advantages.
1. Related Patents and Patent Families:
- The patent family likely includes filings in major jurisdictions such as the US, Europe, Japan, China, and emerging markets.
- These family members may expand patent protections into key territories, covering formally similar compounds or methods.
- Existing patents may target similar chemical scaffolds, necessitating careful freedom-to-operate analysis.
2. Prior Art and Patentability:
- Prior art searches indicate similar compounds or pathways in the same therapeutic area.
- The patent’s novelty likely rests on the specific substituents or synthesis methods not disclosed previously.
- Patent landscape mapping shows a mix of prior disclosures in medicinal chemistry databases, emphasizing the importance of defining claims narrowly to avoid invalidation.
3. Competitive Filing Strategies:
- Competitors may file second-generation or improvement patents linked to WO2014074823.
- Patent thickets in this domain may lead to blocking positions, requiring careful analysis for patent clearance.
4. Litigation and Patent Deadlines:
- The patent’s expiration in about 20 years from the filing date (subject to maintenance and patent term adjustments) positions it as a long-term intellectual property asset.
- Freedom-to-operate assessments are necessary to mitigate infringement risks, especially considering peering patents.
Implications for Stakeholders
- Pharmaceutical developers can leverage the broad claims to develop novel formulations around the compounds.
- Generics manufacturers must evaluate the scope of the patent to avoid infringement or consider licensing or challenging the patent through oppositions.
- Legal teams should monitor competitors’ filings similar to WO2014074823, especially in jurisdictions where the patent is validated.
Conclusion
WO2014074823's patent portfolio provides a substantial barrier and strategic advantage for the assignee, covering a broad set of novel compounds and their therapeutic uses. Its scope is defined by carefully composed claims targeting specific chemical structures and methods, with a landscape shaped by overlapping patents, prior art, and potential challenges.
A thorough freedom-to-operate analysis and continuous monitoring of global filings remain essential for stakeholders aiming to exploit the invention efficiently and mitigate intellectual property risks.
Key Takeaways
- The patent protects a broad class of novel compounds with therapeutic relevance, with claims spanning chemical, method-of-synthesis, and use boundaries.
- The scope’s breadth offers competitive advantages but requires rigorous validity and enforceability assessments.
- The patent landscape includes similar filings, necessitating strategic navigation for market and R&D activities.
- Continuous patent monitoring and potential opposition are crucial for stakeholders in competitive or generic markets.
- Clarifying the specific inventive features—like unique substituents or mechanisms—enhances patent defensibility and maximizes commercial value.
FAQs
-
What is the primary inventive feature of WO2014074823?
The patent's inventive core resides in the specific chemical scaffold with particular substitutions, conferring unique pharmacological properties, detailed within the claims.
-
How broad is the patent’s protection?
The protection extends across a genus of compounds with specified structural features, along with methods of synthesis and therapeutic uses, subject to claim scope and jurisdictional validations.
-
Can competitors design around the patent?
Yes—by modifying substituents outside the claimed scope or developing alternative compounds with different structures or mechanisms, competitors can potentially evade infringement.
-
What strategies should patent holders adopt to maximize protection?
Filing corresponding patent family members in key jurisdictions, pursuing continuations or divisional applications, and drafting claims to cover a range of compounds and uses.
-
What are the main challenges in challenging WO2014074823?
Potential challenges include proving prior art disclosures that anticipate the claims, demonstrating obviousness over existing compounds, or invalidating based on lack of enablement or sufficiency of disclosure.
References
- World Intellectual Property Organization. WO2014074823 patent application publication.
- PatentScope Database.
- Relevant prior art references in medicinal chemistry.
- National patent office publications and legal analyses.
