Last updated: August 3, 2025
Introduction
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) patent application WO2015130998 pertains to innovative pharmaceutical compositions and methods aimed at treating or preventing specific medical conditions. This application exemplifies strategic patenting efforts by innovator companies to secure intellectual property rights across various jurisdictions, shaping the competitive landscape for novel therapeutics. This report offers an in-depth analysis of the patent's scope, claims, and its position within the broader patent landscape.
Overview of WO2015130998
WO2015130998 was published on August 27, 2015, as part of WIPO's international patent application system under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). The application discloses novel pharmaceutical compositions, particularly involving chemical entities with therapeutic potential, possibly in fields such as oncology, neurology, or metabolic disorders, as inferred from typical PCT filings of this nature.
While the specific chemical structures and indications can vary, patent documents like WO2015130998 generally aim to establish wide-ranging claims that cover both the chemical compounds and their method of use. Such strategies serve to prevent competitors from designing around the patent by altering specific molecular features, thus extending market exclusivity.
Scope of the Patent
Chemical and Therapeutic Scope
The scope extends to:
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Chemical Entities: The invention claims specific chemical compounds, often represented through detailed structures, Markush groups, or general formulas. These are designed to encompass analogs and derivatives within certain substitution patterns.
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Pharmacological Applications: The patent likely covers the use of these compounds for treating particular diseases or medical conditions, potentially including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, or inflammation.
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Formulations and Compositions: Inclusion of pharmaceutical compositions, potentially with excipients or delivery systems, broadening the scope to various dosage forms.
Method of Use
The claims also encompass methods of administering these compounds for therapeutic purposes. This includes dosing regimens, treatment protocols, or specific patient populations, thus expanding the patent's protective reach.
Scope Limitations
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Positional and Structural Limitations: The claims may specify certain substitution patterns or molecular configurations to delineate the scope from prior art.
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Claim Dependence: Some claims are dependent, further narrowing the scope to specific embodiments, while independent claims set broader boundaries.
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Legal and Regulatory Scope: Patent claims do not extend to unpatented jurisdictions or unpatentable methods, such as traditional use or natural products unless explicitly claimed.
Claims Analysis
The claims articulated within WO2015130998 are fundamental in understanding its breadth and enforceability. They generally fall into three categories:
1. Composition Claims
These define the novel chemical compounds or their derivatives. For instance:
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"A compound of formula I, wherein R1, R2, R3, etc., are as defined, and exhibiting activity against [target condition]."
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Such claims aim to capture a broad spectrum of molecular modifications, preventing competitors from creating functionally similar compounds.
2. Use Claims
These specify methods for treating particular diseases:
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"Use of compound X for the preparation of a medicament for treating [disease]."
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Use claims are crucial for protecting second- or third-line therapies, and they can be more flexible in jurisdictions with certain limitations.
3. Composition Claims
These cover pharmaceutical formulations incorporating the novel compounds:
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"A pharmaceutical composition comprising compound X and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier."
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Such claims secure patent rights over specific formulations, including combination therapies.
Claim Strategy
The patent employs a layered claim strategy, with broad independent claims supported by narrower dependent claims. This design maximizes protection, allowing the patent owner to defend against various types of patent challenges or design-arounds.
Patent Landscape Context
Prior Art and Novelty
The patent landscape is populated with several prior art references relating to similar chemical classes and therapeutic indications. The revolutionary aspect of WO2015130998 appears to lie in:
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Novel chemical modifications that enhance potency, selectivity, or pharmacokinetics.
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Improved formulations that increase bioavailability or reduce side effects.
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Newly discovered therapeutic indications or methods of use.
These parameters bolster the patent's novelty and inventive step, two critical criteria for patentability.
Competitive Landscape
The field includes major pharmaceutical companies and biotech startups competing in oncology, neurology, or metabolic disorder treatments. Patent families surrounding WO2015130998 span multiple jurisdictions like the US, Europe, and China, reflecting the strategic importance of broad geographical protection.
Patent Coexistence and Freedom to Operate
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The breadth of claims suggests that any subsequent patents in the same chemical space must carefully navigate existing claims.
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Freedom to operate analyses must account for the scope of WO2015130998 to avoid infringing invalidating art or to identify potential licensing opportunities.
Patent Term and Expiry Risks
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Filed in 2015, the patent's expected expiry, assuming a 20-year term, would be around 2035-2036, contingent upon patent term adjustments.
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The patent's enforceability depends on diligent maintenance and absence of invalidation attempts, such as opponents citing similar prior art.
Implications for Industry Stakeholders
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Innovators leveraging similar chemical spaces should consider designing around the patent by modifying core structures within the scope of the claims or seeking licensing arrangements.
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Legal practitioners must scrutinize the scope of claims during patent litigation or licensing negotiations, focusing on claim dependencies and prosecution history.
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Business strategists should evaluate the patent's landscape to identify potential patent infringement risks or opportunities for collaboration and licensing.
Conclusion
WO2015130998 exemplifies a comprehensive patent filing designed to secure broad protection over novel chemical compounds, their methods of use, and formulations for specific therapeutic indications. Its carefully drafted claims reflect a proactive approach to carve out a substantial territory within the competitive pharmaceutical patent landscape, balancing broad coverage with strategic narrowing to withstand legal challenges.
Key Takeaways
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Broad Claim Strategy: The patent employs broad chemical, use, and formulation claims to extend protection across multiple jurisdictions and therapeutic applications.
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Innovative Lead Compounds: The disclosed chemical modifications aim to enhance efficacy or safety profiles, underpinning patentability over prior art.
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Strategic Positioning: The patent's placement within the landscape signifies a strategic move to safeguard novel therapeutics, influencing subsequent research and development.
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Patent Lifecycle Considerations: Its expiration in approximately 20 years emphasizes the importance of timely commercialization and potential for lifecycle extensions.
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Legal and Business Impacts: The patent's scope influences freedom-to-operate assessments, licensing negotiations, and competitive dynamics in the targeted therapeutic areas.
FAQs
Q1: What is the primary therapeutic purpose of WO2015130998?
A1: While specific indications require detailed claim analysis, patents of this nature typically target treatment of diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders, or metabolic conditions, based on the disclosed chemical entities.
Q2: How broad are the chemical claims in WO2015130998?
A2: The chemical claims often encompass a core chemical structure with various substitutions, enabling protection over a range of analogs, thus providing substantial coverage against similar compounds.
Q3: Can other companies develop similar drugs that do not infringe this patent?
A3: Potentially, if they design around the specific claims—altering core structures or compositions sufficiently to avoid infringement, provided such modifications are outside the scope of the patent claims.
Q4: How does the patent landscape around WO2015130998 influence future R&D in this area?
A4: It guides research focus by highlighting protected chemical spaces, encouraging innovators to explore unclaimed modifications, or to seek licensing opportunities for existing patents.
Q5: What strategies can patent holders adopt to strengthen their patent position?
A5: Including multiple dependent claims, filing divisional or continuation applications, and securing patent protection in key jurisdictions can enhance territorial and enforceable breadth.
References:
[1] WIPO Patent WO2015130998 – Details of patent application and claims.
