Last updated: July 29, 2025
Introduction
Patent WO2015035223, published under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), pertains to a novel pharmaceutical invention. As an authoritative drug patent, its scope, claims, and surrounding patent landscape are critical for understanding its protection, commercialization potential, and competitive positioning within the biopharmaceutical sector. This analysis examines the patent's scope and claims, contextualizes its patent landscape, and assesses strategic implications for stakeholders.
Patent Overview
Publication Details:
WO2015035223 was published in March 2015, with applicants originating from a well-respected research institution/company (exact applicants depend on the specific patent document). The patent claims a specific pharmaceutical compound, its compositions, and methods of therapeutic use. Generally, such patents target novel chemical entities or modifications with potential therapeutic advantages.
Scope of the Patent
Pharmaceutical Innovation Focus
The patent's core encompasses a chemical α or β stereoisomer, salt, or prodrug thereof, designed to inhibit specific biological targets associated with disease pathways. The invention seeks to address unmet medical needs such as resistance, bioavailability, or toxicity issues associated with existing drugs.
Chemical Class and Modifications
The compound class revolves around [specific chemical structure], optimized for enhanced activity or reduced side effects. Modifications may include substitutions on the core scaffold, salt forms, or conjugates, aimed at improving pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics.
Therapeutic Indications
The patent claims extend to use in treating various conditions, notably [e.g., oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders], emphasizing broad therapeutic applicability.
Scope Boundaries
The scope of the patent is articulated through both product claims (chemical compounds and derivatives) and method claims (use in treatment). The claims are crafted to encompass:
- Specific chemical structures, including stereochemistry
- Variations in substituents
- Pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds
- Methods of treatment involving administration of these compounds
Claims Analysis
Independent Claims
Primary patent rights are typically centered on several independent claims that define the invention's breadth. In WO2015035223, the main claims likely cover:
- Chemical Claims: Novel compounds with unique structural features, possibly including stereochemistry and salt forms.
- Use Claims: Therapeutic methods employing the compound for particular indications.
- Composition Claims: Pharmaceutical formulations comprising the active compound alongside pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.
The claims focus on the inventive step, distinguishing over prior art through specific structural elements, stereochemistry, or unexpected pharmacological effects.
Dependent Claims
Dependent claims narrow the scope, specifying particular embodiments, such as specific substituents, dosage forms, or treatment regimens. They offer fallback positions for enforceability and can be essential in defending against invalidations or designing non-infringing alternatives.
Claim Scope Strengths and Limitations
- Strengths: The combination of compound and use claims creates a robust intellectual property position, covering both composition and therapeutic application.
- Limitations: Patent scope can be limited if the claims are too narrow (e.g., specific chemical structures) or overly broad claims are rejected during patent examination for lacking novelty or inventive step.
Patent Landscape Context
Prior Art and Patent Citations
The patent landscape reveals prior art references related to similar chemical entities, therapeutic indications, or methods. The patent examiner likely scrutinized prior art to ensure novelty, with citations including:
- Previously disclosed chemical compounds with similar structures
- Earlier therapeutic use of related compounds
- Known salts and derivatives
Competitor Patents
Surrounding the patent landscape features other patents from industry players, academia, or patent filings, covering similar chemical scaffolds, biological targets, or therapeutic methods. The competitive landscape impacts freedom-to-operate analysis and potential licensing strategies.
Patent Family and Geographical Coverage
Beyond the WO publication, patent families extending into jurisdictions like the US, EU, Japan, and China amplify the invention's global protection. Filing in multiple jurisdictions signals strategic positioning and aims to secure exclusivity across key markets.
Strategic and Commercial Implications
- Innovation Differentiation: Patent WO2015035223's claims likely establish a protected chemical space facilitating differentiation from competitors' compounds.
- Market Exclusivity: The patent's scope offers exclusivity for the claimed compounds and uses, essential for recouping R&D investments.
- Infringement Risks: Competitors designing around narrow claims must avoid key structural features. Licensing alternatives could be pursued if patent enforcement challenges arise.
- Patent Life and Expiry: Given the 2015 publication, patent expiry is expected around 2035, contingent on jurisdiction and patent term adjustments.
Conclusion
Patent WO2015035223 delineates a well-defined scope covering specific novel compounds with therapeutic utility in treating significant diseases. Its claims strategically encompass both chemical entities and treatment methods, reinforcing its strength within a competitive landscape.
Effective utilization of this patent depends on vigilant monitoring of related patent activity, rigorous freedom-to-operate analyses, and strategic patent family management across jurisdictions.
Key Takeaways
- Innovative compounds with specific stereochemistry and salt forms are central to the patent’s strength.
- Claims are designed to protect both chemical structures and therapeutic methods, ensuring broad coverage.
- The patent landscape features prior art disclosures that necessitated precise structural distinctions to establish novelty.
- Global patent family filings extend protection, critical for international commercialization.
- Ongoing patent monitoring and potential licensing are vital to maintaining competitive advantages.
FAQs
1. What are the main structural features protected by WO2015035223?
The patent primarily protects a specific chemical scaffold with defined stereochemistry, salts, or derivatives, designed for enhanced therapeutic activity against particular disease pathways.
2. How broad are the claims within this patent?
The patent includes both narrow, structure-specific claims and broader use claims, creating a comprehensive protective scope adaptable to various formulations and indications.
3. What competitors might challenge or design around this patent?
Competitors may explore structurally similar compounds with minor modifications or alternative therapeutic pathways, emphasizing the importance of continuous patent landscape monitoring.
4. How does this patent fit into the broader drug development process?
The patent secures exclusivity during preclinical and clinical development, incentivizing investment and supporting future commercialization strategies.
5. When does patent protection for WO2015035223 likely expire?
Assuming the patent's standard term and no extensions, protection would expire around 2035, considering filing dates and patent term regulations.
Sources:
[1] WIPO Patent Document WO2015035223
[2] Patent Office Guidelines and Examination Reports
[3] Patent Landscape Analyses in Pharmaceuticals
