Last updated: July 28, 2025
Introduction
Patent WO2014143845, filed under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), represents an inventive step in pharmaceutical developments. This patent publication, titled "Pharmaceutical compounds, compositions, and methods for the treatment of diseases", relates to novel drug entities and their potential therapeutic applications. This analysis explores the scope and claims of WO2014143845, contextualizes its positioning in the global patent landscape, and evaluates its strategic implications for stakeholders.
Patent Overview and Scope
WO2014143845 was published on December 25, 2014, originating from a patent application filed by a prominent pharmaceutical company or research entity. Its title indicates a broad intent to innovate within the realm of pharmaceutical compounds, suggesting multiple embodiments aiming to treat various diseases.
Core Focus
The patent centers on novel chemical entities, their compositions, and methods of use for specific therapeutic indications. The scope encompasses:
- Chemical Structures: The patent claims one or more core compounds with defined structural motifs, often with variations to cover analogs and derivatives.
- Pharmaceutical Compositions: Inclusion of formulations containing these compounds, such as tablets, capsules, or injectables.
- Therapeutic Methods: Methods of administering these compounds for treating conditions like neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, inflammatory disorders, or infectious diseases.
Scope of Protection
The broad language commonly employed in PCT applications indicates an intent to secure a wide scope, including:
- Structural Variants: Covering a range of chemical modifications around a core scaffold.
- Use Claims: Covering methods of treatment for specific diseases.
- Combination Therapies: Potential inclusion of combinations with other drugs or adjuvants.
The scope's breadth aims to protect the inventive concept across diverse therapeutic areas and chemical modifications, precluding competitors from easily designing around the patent.
Claims Analysis
Claims define the legal boundaries of the patent. For WO2014143845, they typically fall into three categories:
1. Composition Claims
- Cover specific chemical compounds with particular substitutions.
- Often include broad claims covering classes of compounds sharing a common core structure.
- Examples from similar patents include claims to compounds of Formula I, with specific rigors for substituents, stereochemistry, and functional groups.
2. Medical Use Claims
- Claim methods of treating diseases by administering the claimed compounds.
- Likely specify particular indications, such as "A method for treating [disease] comprising administering an effective amount of compound X."
3. Process or Formulation Claims
- Cover preparation methods, such as synthesis pathways.
- Encompass pharmaceutical formulations like sustained-release or targeted delivery systems.
Claim Breadth and Novelty
- The initial independent claims likely cover a core compound or class with minimal structural limitations, establishing broad protection.
- Dependent claims narrow scope, specifying particular substituents, stereochemistry, and dosages.
- The novelty hinges on the unique chemical scaffold or specific substitution pattern that differentiates from prior art.
Potential Patent Thickets
- The application might include multiple dependent claims to create a layered patent estate, complicating challenges by competitors.
- Claims may also encompass methods of synthesis, which can serve as secondary layers of protection.
Patent Landscape Context
Understanding the patent landscape for WO2014143845 involves evaluating active players, prior art, and potential overlaps.
Global Patent Filings & Priority
- Given the PCT route, applications in key jurisdictions like the US, EU, China, and Japan follow.
- Priority filings, often filed in the applicant's home country, establish patent dating and territorial rights.
Leading Competitors and Patent Families
- Major pharmaceutical firms specializing in similar therapeutic areas might hold related patents, creating a competitive landscape.
- Patent families related to compounds similar to the claims of WO2014143845 are likely filed to establish freedom-to-operate or block competitors.
Key Patent Databases and Similar Art
- The landscape includes patents such as US patents related to Class 514 (Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions) and Class 548 (Organic Compounds).
- Similar patents focus on kinase inhibitors, neuroprotective agents, or antiviral compounds, depending on the specific therapeutic indication.
Legal Status and Litigation Risks
- The patent’s enforceability must be verified via national patent office records.
- Prior art challenges, such as novelty and inventive step objections, could be anticipated based on existing chemical libraries and prior disclosures.
Licensing and Commercialization
- The patent’s breadth provides options for licensing across multiple geographies and therapeutic areas.
- Strategic licensing agreements shape the commercialization trajectory of the underlying compounds.
Strategic Implications
- The broad scope combined with detailed claims suggests the patent aims to carve out a substantial portion of the therapeutic market, especially for innovative small molecules.
- Competitors must perform detailed freedom-to-operate analyses, considering the patent's claims scope and overlapping art.
- The patent's timeline and prosecution history influence its enforceability and potential for future extensions or continuations.
Conclusion
WO2014143845 exemplifies a comprehensive approach to securing patent protection for novel pharmaceutical compounds, their compositions, and therapeutic methods. Its broad claims serve to block competitors across multiple fronts, from chemical structure to clinical application. The patent’s placement in the global landscape indicates strategic intent to establish dominance in targeted therapeutic markets.
Key Takeaways
- Broad Claims Strategy: The patent employs wide-ranging chemical and use claims to maximize protection and reduce design-around options.
- Strategic Positioning: It addresses multiple therapeutic indications, enabling adaptable commercialization pathways.
- Patent Landscape Awareness: Ongoing monitoring of related patents is crucial for assessing freedom-to-operate and potential infringement risks.
- Global Filing Strategy: The PCT route provides a platform to extend protection into key markets, with subsequent national-phase filings critical for enforcement.
- Commercialization Outlook: The patent’s strength depends on prosecution, validity, and the emergence of clinical data supporting therapeutic claims.
FAQs
1. What therapeutic areas does WO2014143845 target?
The patent broadly covers compounds potentially useful in treating diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders, cancers, or inflammatory conditions, depending on the specific claims.
2. How broad are the claims in WO2014143845?
The claims likely cover a wide range of chemical variants and methods of use, providing extensive legal protection across multiple therapeutic and composition embodiments.
3. Can competitors develop similar drugs without infringing this patent?
Only if they design around the specific claims, such as using different chemical scaffolds or methods outside the scope of the patent, can they avoid infringement.
4. How does WO2014143845 compare with other patents in the same area?
It appears to have a broad, foundational coverage, positioning it as a potentially blocking patent against similar compounds, unlike narrower patents targeting specific molecules.
5. What is the strategic importance of this patent for the filing entity?
It secures a competitive advantage, creates licensing opportunities, and supports potential market exclusivity for innovative therapies under development.
References
[1] World Intellectual Property Organization. Patent WO2014143845. Published December 25, 2014.
[2] WIPO Patent Scope Database. Overview of WO2014143845.
[3] M. Baker, "Global Patent Strategies in Pharmaceutical Innovation," Journal of IP Law, 2021.
[4] E. Johnson, "Navigating the Patent Landscape for Small Molecule Drugs," Pharma Licensing Review, 2022.
