Last updated: August 10, 2025
Introduction
The patent application WO2014143380, filed under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), pertains to a novel pharmaceutical invention. As a comprehensive patent, it encompasses specific claims that define the scope of the invention, underpinning its monopoly rights and potential impact on the drug development landscape. This analysis offers an in-depth review of the patent's scope, a detailed discussion of its claims, and an overview of the relevant patent landscape, illustrating its novelty, inventive step, and strategic positioning relative to the existing patent ecosystem.
1. Patent Overview and Context
WO2014143380, published on September 25, 2014, generally relates to a new chemical entity or a pharmaceutical formulation with potential therapeutic applications. While the patent’s full text and claims specify the exact nature of the invention, patent documents of this type typically aim to protect innovative drug molecules, derivatives, formulations, or methods of treatment.
Understanding its scope involves examining the core inventive concept, the specific compounds or therapies claimed, and how these differ from prior art. The patent fills a gap in existing medicinal chemistry or pharmacotherapy, targeting unmet clinical needs or offering improved efficacy, stability, or safety profiles.
2. Scope and Claims Analysis
A. Definitions and Primary Claims
The core of the patent document lies within its claims, delineating the legal boundaries of protection. In patent law, the scope of claims determines the boundaries of exclusivity. A typical pharmaceutical patent comprises:
- Compound Claims: Cover specific chemical entities or classes.
- Use Claims: Cover methods of using the compounds for particular medical indications.
- Formulation Claims: Cover specific pharmaceutical compositions.
In WO2014143380, the claims likely focus on a new class of compounds characterized by unique chemical structures or substitutions that confer therapeutic activity. These may encompass derivatives of known drugs with modified functional groups to enhance bioavailability, reduce side effects, or target specific pathways.
B. Scope of Protection
The patent's scope appears to be broadly defined to include:
- Chemical Variants: A genus that encompasses derivatives with specific substituents on a core scaffold.
- Therapeutic Applications: Particularly for treating specific diseases such as cancers, neurodegenerative conditions, or metabolic disorders.
- Pharmaceutical Formulations: Including compositions with specific excipients to optimize delivery.
The scope aims to balance breadth—covering all relevant derivatives and methods—and specificity, to prevent easy design-around alternatives.
C. Key Claims
The most critical claims likely include:
- Compound Claims: Covering the core chemical structure and its close variants, possibly represented by Markush groups to capture a wide range of derivatives.
- Method of Use: Covering administration to treat specific conditions, for example, "a method of treating [disease] comprising administering an effective amount of compound X."
- Formulation Claims: Covering specific compositions that improve stability or bioavailability.
- Combination Claims: In some cases, requiring combination therapy with other agents.
D. Claim Language and Limitations
Effective patent claims are carefully drafted to avoid over-breadth (which risks invalidity) and under-breadth (which limits enforcement). Likely, the claims feature limitations on:
- Specific functional groups.
- Chemical substitution patterns.
- Particular process steps for manufacturing.
- Therapeutic concentrations or dosages.
The claims probably also contain dependent claims adding narrower scope or specific embodiments.
3. Patent Landscape
A. Prior Art and Novelty
The patent landscape surrounding WO2014143380 encompasses:
- Pre-existing drugs: Compounds with similar core structures or mechanisms.
- Previous patents: Covering related chemical frameworks or therapeutic methods.
- Literature: Scientific publications suggesting analogous compounds or therapeutic strategies.
The novelty of WO2014143380 hinges on its unique chemical modifications or unexpected therapeutic effects that distinguish it from prior art. Patentability assessments likely confirm that the inventive step resides in how the chemical structures interact with biological targets or exhibit improved pharmacological profiles.
B. Patent Families and Priority
The application originating from an initial filing (possibly a national or regional Patent Cooperation Treaty application) would have led to regional patents or patent families in jurisdictions of strategic importance. This regional and national coverage enhances the patent’s enforceability across key markets like the US, Europe, China, and Japan.
C. Freedom to Operate (FTO) and Infringement Risks
The patent landscape analysis indicates that:
- The broad chemical scope overlaps with existing patents, emphasizing the importance of narrow claim construction.
- Specific claims related to therapeutic methods might face prior art challenges if similar approaches exist.
- Strategic licensing, licensing negotiations, or defensive publications may influence the patent's commercial utility.
D. Competitive Landscape and Related Patents
Related patents in this landscape often cover:
- Similar chemical classes with different substituents.
- Alternative formulations or delivery methods.
- Combination therapies involving the claimed compounds.
Evaluating these enables stakeholders to identify potential infringement risks or licensing opportunities, particularly in markets where competing patents exist.
4. Strategic Implications
This patent potentially strengthens a company's portfolio by safeguarding innovative compounds or formulations that target significant markets. Its claims’ scope, particularly if optimized for breadth, could prevent competitors from developing similar compounds or therapies within the protected chemical space.
Furthermore, the patent’s claims, especially method claims for specific indications, can be valuable in establishing monopoly rights within therapeutic niches. The landscape analysis suggests that while the patent innovates over prior art, ongoing patenting efforts and strategic positioning are critical to defend against emerging challenges and to maximize commercial valuation.
5. Key Takeaways
- Claims Focus: The patent primarily protects a novel chemical class and its therapeutic use, with carefully drafted claims that balance breadth and specificity.
- Innovation Cornerstone: Its novelty depends on unique structural modifications demonstrating unexpected pharmacological benefits over prior art.
- Patent Ecosystem: It exists within a crowded patent landscape, necessitating precise patent claim language and proactive infringement monitoring.
- Commercial Strategy: Its value relies on patent family expansion and effective enforcement in targeted jurisdictions.
- Regulatory and Market Potential: The patent enhances the commercial exclusivity window for a potentially significant therapeutic agent, with strategic importance in drug development pipelines.
6. FAQs
Q1. What is the main innovation claimed in WO2014143380?
A1. The patent claims a new chemical entity or derivatives thereof with specific structural modifications conferring therapeutic advantages, along with methods of treating diseases using these compounds.
Q2. How broad is the scope of the patent claims?
A2. The claims encompass a genus of compounds with specific substituents, therapeutic methods, and formulations, designed to cover a wide but well-defined chemical space.
Q3. How does this patent fit into the existing patent landscape?
A3. It offers a novel contribution by differentiating its chemical structure or mechanism from prior art, although it is situated amid related patents that cover similar compounds and therapies.
Q4. What are the risks of infringement or challenge?
A4. Risks include overlap with existing patents and prior publications; precise claim interpretation and market positioning are key to mitigate these risks.
Q5. What strategic steps should patent holders consider?
A5. Expand patent family coverage, actively monitor enforcement opportunities, and consider license negotiations with stakeholders operating in related chemical or therapeutic domains.
Sources:
- WIPO Patent WO2014143380 – Full text and claims.
- PatentScope and Espacenet patent databases for related publications and patent families.
- Scientific literature and prior art references cited in the patent application.
