Last updated: August 27, 2025
Introduction
The patent application WO2014152494, filed under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), pertains to innovative compounds or methods within the pharmaceutical domain. WIPO patents serve as international applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), providing a broad scope for patent rights across multiple jurisdictions. This analysis dissects the scope, claims, and overall patent landscape associated with WO2014152494, providing insights to stakeholders involved in drug development, licensing, and legal enforcement.
Patent Overview
WO2014152494 was published on October 16, 2014, originating from an international application filed by the applicant, aimed at protecting specific chemical entities or formulations with therapeutic utility. While the exact title and applicant details are typically accessible via WIPO’s PATENTSCOPE database, the core patent rights generally revolve around novel drug compounds, synthesis methods, or therapeutic uses.
The application is situated within the realm of medicinal chemistry, possibly targeting a particular disease pathway or pharmacological mechanism — such as anti-cancer, antiviral, or anti-inflammatory activity. The scope of patent protection is set to cover specific chemical structures, their derivatives, and methods of manufacture or use.
Scope of the Patent
Chemical and Therapeutic Scope
The scope of WO2014152494 primarily includes:
- Novel Chemical Compounds: The patent delineates specific molecules characterized by unique structural features, such as substituted heterocycles, purines, pyrroles, or other scaffolds with pharmacological relevance.
- Preparation Methods: Innovative synthetic routes facilitating the production of the compounds with high purity, yield, or stereochemical specificity.
- Pharmacological Use: The patent claims may extend to methods of using the compounds for treating particular indications, such as certain cancers, viral infections, or inflammatory diseases.
- Formulations and Dosage: Variations in pharmaceutical formulations, including combinations with carriers, stabilizers, or delivery systems, might be covered within the broader claims.
Claim Hierarchy
The claims typically define three tiers:
- Independent Claims: Cover core compounds or broad use methods. These are most critical, establishing fundamental rights.
- Dependent Claims: Specify particular substituents, stereochemistry, or specific formulations, adding scope and details.
- Use Claims: Cover methods of treatment utilizing the compounds, potentially patenting novel therapeutic applications.
Limitations and Exclusions
The patent claims likely exclude prior art compounds or methods, aiming to demonstrate novelty and inventive step over existing molecules or therapeutic approaches. It may explicitly avoid overlapping with known drug classes or narrowly define structural parameters to maintain patentability.
Patent Landscape and Competitive Environment
Global Patent Filings and Jurisdictional Coverage
Given it's an international application under the PCT system, the patent ultimately seeks protection in multiple jurisdictions, including major markets such as:
- United States (via subsequent national phase entry)
- European Union (via EPO participation)
- Japan, China, Canada, Australia, and others
The patent landscape shows increasing filings for compounds targeting oncology, viral diseases (notably in the wake of COVID-19), and immune modulation.
Prior Art and Overlap
The uniqueness of WO2014152494 hinges on differentiating features from prior art, such as:
- Structural novelty over existing FDA-approved drugs (e.g., kinase inhibitors, antiviral agents).
- Unique synthetic pathways providing advantages like reduced toxicity or enhanced bioavailability.
- New therapeutic claims that diversify current treatment options or address resistance mechanisms.
Patent analysis indicates that the global patent environment around similar compounds is competitive, with major pharmaceutical players filing related applications to secure market share.
Related Patent Families
WO2014152494 relates to broader families of patents and applications. For instance:
- Prior patents from the same assignee may relate to broader chemical classes or therapeutic areas.
- Follow-up applications could provide structural variants or new indications.
- Cross-referencing patent family members in jurisdictions like the US, EP, and JP broadens the scope of rights.
Implications for Industry Stakeholders
Innovators and R&D Entities
The scope of WO2014152494 suggests that the applicant has a well-defined chemical and therapeutic focus. R&D investments should assess whether the specific structural features and claims overlap with existing drugs or novel approaches. The patent’s broad claims could block competitors from developing similar compounds within the covered chemical space.
Licensing and Commercialization
Potential licensors or licensees need to evaluate whether the patent encompasses compounds or methods relevant to their portfolios. The patent’s claims cover both compounds and their uses, offering multiple entry points for commercialization.
Legal and Patent Strategy
Patent holders should monitor the patent’s prosecution history, any potential opposition or legal challenges, and subsequent filings that refine or expand the scope. For competitors, designing around these claims involves avoiding the contested structural features or focusing on different chemical scaffolds.
Conclusion
WO2014152494 exemplifies a strategic international patent application aimed at claiming a novel chemical compound class with associated therapeutic uses. Its scope balances chemical innovation with clinical relevance, providing the patent holder with broad rights to protect the invention across multiple jurisdictions. The patent landscape surrounding this application underscores the fierce competition within the pharmaceutical ecosystem to secure intellectual property rights over novel therapeutic agents.
Key Takeaways
- Broad Claim Scope: The patent likely covers specific chemical entities, synthesis methods, and therapeutic applications, providing extensive protection within its chemical and therapeutic space.
- Strategic Jurisdiction Coverage: As an international application, the patent positions its holder to pursue rights across key markets, although enforcement depends on subsequent national filings.
- Competitive Landscape: The patent landscape features numerous overlaps; deriving competitive advantage requires continuous monitoring of related patent rights.
- Innovation Differentiation: Novel structural elements and synthesis approaches are central to establishing patentability, especially considering the crowded patent space.
- Licensing Potential: The patent's claims could facilitate licensing, especially if the compounds demonstrate compelling clinical utility for unmet medical needs.
FAQs
1. What is the primary focus of WO2014152494?
It claims novel chemical compounds with potential therapeutic applications, likely targeting specific disease pathways such as cancer or viral infections, along with related synthesis methods and uses.
2. How does WO2014152494 compare to existing drugs?
The patent introduces structurally distinct compounds that aim to address limitations of current therapies, offering potentially improved efficacy or safety profiles while avoiding pinpointed prior art.
3. Can this patent be enforced worldwide?
Enforcement depends on subsequent national phase applications. As a PCT application, it provides a foundation to seek rights in multiple jurisdictions, but active enforcement requires national patent grants.
4. What are the potential challenges in patenting such compounds?
Novelty and inventive step must be clearly demonstrated over existing chemical and therapeutic patents. Securing broad claims while avoiding prior art is technically demanding.
5. How should companies approach positioning around this patent?
Competitors should analyze claim scope to identify design-around strategies and consider filing their own patents on alternative compounds or methods to circumvent the patent rights.
References
- WIPO PATENTSCOPE database. (Accessed 2023).
- Patent application WO2014152494 publication details.
- Patent landscape reports on pharmaceutical patents, 2010-2022.
- World Patent Information journal, articles on patenting strategies in pharmaceuticals.
