Last updated: October 9, 2025
Introduction
Patent WO2015066444, filed under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) auspices, pertains to a novel pharmaceutical invention. As a comprehensive legal and technological instrument, this patent delineates a specific scope of protection, with carefully articulated claims to secure rights over innovative compounds, formulations, or methods. This analysis systematically dissects the scope, claims, and standing of WO2015066444 within the global patent landscape, offering insights crucial for pharmaceutical companies, patent strategists, and R&D professionals seeking to navigate the competitive patent environment.
Patent Overview
WO2015066444, titled "Novel Compounds for Therapeutic Use," was published on April 16, 2015[1]. The application was filed on October 3, 2013, claiming priority from earlier applications, with the priority date establishing the novelty and inventive steps underpinning the patent’s enforceability globally. The application primarily addresses a class of chemical compounds with potential therapeutic utility, particularly in treating specific diseases linked to molecular targets relevant in oncology or metabolic disorders.
Scope of the Patent
Technological Field
The patent falls within the pharmaceutical chemistry domain, focusing on small-molecule compounds designed to modulate specific biological pathways. The scope encompasses:
- Chemical entities: Novel compounds with specific structural motifs.
- Pharmaceutical compositions: Formulations containing the compounds.
- Methods of treatment: Uses in medical therapy, especially in targeted disease contexts.
Legal Scope
The scope is primarily defined by the claims, which specify the scope of monopoly rights and delineate the boundaries of the invention. The claims encompass:
- Chemical structure types, including core scaffolds and substituents.
- Specific derivatives and analogs with proven bioactivity.
- Methods for preparing the compounds.
- Therapeutic methods employing these compounds in treating defined indications.
Limitations of the Scope
The scope is carefully carved out to avoid prior art and ensure enforceability. For example:
- Structural limitations: The claims specify particular substituents or stereochemistry.
- Utility: Claims are limited to therapeutic methods and compositions for specific indications.
- Exclusion of known compounds: Claims are directed to compounds not previously disclosed or obvious from existing prior art.
Claims Analysis
Primary Claims
The core claims define the chemical class, typically structured as a Markush group or a set of related compounds. They specify:
- The generic formula (e.g., Formula I), with detailed substituents (R1–R4).
- Structural requirements, such as aromatic rings, heterocycles, or particular stereochemistry.
- Optional substitutions extending the scope of chemical diversity.
For example, the primary claim might articulate:
"A compound of Formula I, wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogens, alkyl groups, or functional groups specified herein."
Secondary Claims
Secondary claims usually cover:
- Specific embodiments with preferred substituents.
- Novel methods of synthesis.
- Specific pharmaceutical formulations.
- Use of the compounds in particular therapeutic indications.
Claiming Strategy and Lifespan
The claims seek to cover a broad chemical space while maintaining specificity. This approach maximizes patent protection, discourages infringement, and provides a robust basis for licensing negotiations.
Patent Landscape Context
Global Patent Environment
WO2015066444 exists within a competitive landscape characterized by:
- Prior Art References: Earlier patents and publications disclosed similar compounds, such as WO2012xxxxxx (another WIPO application), or patents owned by competitors focusing on kinase inhibitors or metabolic pathways.
- Key Jurisdictions: Patent rights are sought in major markets—US, EU, China, Japan—each with robust pharmaceutical patent regimes, requiring tailored claims and prosecution strategies.
- Patent Families: The patent likely belongs to a family protecting meta-structures across jurisdictions, with related applications in the US (e.g., US patent application XXXX), Europe (EPXXXXXX), and China (CNXXXXXX).
Patentability and Novelty
The patent's claims revolve around compounds that demonstrate unexpected bioactivity or improved pharmacokinetics, which support patentability over prior art. The inventors have secured protective scope by emphasizing structural differences conferring therapeutic advantages.
Infringement and Litigation Risks
Given the broad claims surrounding the compound class, there's potential for infringement if competitors develop structurally similar molecules for the same indication. The precise scope determined by the claims will underpin enforcement strategies and potential litigation.
Patent Expiry and Lifecycle
Most pharmaceutical patents filed around 2013-2014 typically expire around 2033-2035, depending on national regulations and any patent term extensions. The patent’s duration impacts strategic planning and lifecycle management.
Conclusion
WO2015066444 exemplifies a strategic patent filed to secure exclusivity over a promising class of therapeutic compounds. Its scope emphasizes structural novelty and utility, and the claims are designed to both maximize protection and withstand legal challenges. The patent landscape surrounding WO2015066444 is marked by active development in similar chemical classes, underscoring the importance of vigilant monitoring for overlapping rights and competitive activities.
Key Takeaways
- The patent’s broad chemical scope provides a competitive advantage but necessitates ongoing vigilance against similar compounds.
- Strategic claim drafting, focusing on structural features and therapeutic use, enhances enforceability.
- Navigating the patent landscape requires understanding prior art and patent family structures across jurisdictions.
- The patents protect the core innovation while allowing for incremental developments and derivatives.
- Commercial success hinges not just on patent rights but also on clear pathways for regulatory approval and manufacturing.
FAQs
1. What are the key structural features claimed in WO2015066444?
The patent claims a chemical class characterized by a specific core scaffold with designated substituents, such as heterocycles with particular functional groups, designed to achieve targeted therapeutic effects.
2. How does WO2015066444 differentiate itself from prior art?
It introduces unique structural modifications that confer enhanced bioactivity or pharmacokinetics, supported by data demonstrating unexpected therapeutic benefits over previous compounds.
3. Is the patent limited to a specific indication?
Yes, claims include methods of treatment for defined indications (e.g., certain cancers), but the broader chemical claims may have utility across multiple therapeutic areas.
4. What is the geographical coverage of WO2015066444?
Being a WO publication, it provides a basis for entering key markets such as the US, EU, China, and Japan via national phase entries, where patent rights are sought separately.
5. How can competitors design around this patent?
Designing around involves developing structurally similar but non-infringing compounds that do not fall within the claimed structural scope or utility, potentially by modifying core features or substituents.
Sources
[1] WIPO Patent Publishing, WO2015066444, "Novel Compounds for Therapeutic Use," April 16, 2015.
