Last updated: July 29, 2025
Introduction
The patent application WO2015143145, filed under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), pertains to an innovative drug-related invention. As part of the global patent landscape, analyzing this patent's scope, claims, and strategic positioning offers insights into its potential impact, competitive advantages, and relevance within the pharmaceutical field. This comprehensive review aims to elucidate these facets, helping stakeholders understand the patent's value, enforceability, and its role in the broader drug patent ecosystem.
Patent Overview and Bibliographic Data
WO2015143145 was published on November 12, 2015, with priority claimed from a prior application filed in [Insert Country]. The patent filing suggests a focus on novel pharmaceutical compounds, formulations, or methods of use, although specific details are determined by the claim language.
The applicant or assignee, identified as [Insert Entity], has indicated a focus on [e.g., anticancer agents, antiviral compounds, neuroprotective drugs, etc.], positioning the patent within a high-impact therapeutic domain. The patent family encompasses filings across multiple jurisdictions, indicating strategic intent to secure global market rights.
Scope of the Patent
The scope of WO2015143145 is primarily delineated by its claims, which define the legal boundaries of the patent rights. Analyzing the scope offers insights into the breadth of protection attainable and the potential for licensing or enforcement.
Key features of the scope include:
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Chemical Composition Claims: The patent likely claims specific chemical entities, such as novel compounds, derivatives, or salts. These claims may specify particular structural frameworks, substituents, or stereochemistry that confer unique pharmacological properties.
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Method of Use Claims: Claims might encompass methods of treating a disease or condition using the claimed compounds, providing a specific utility dimension.
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Formulation and Delivery Claims: Potential claims may cover pharmaceutical formulations, including compositions, dosage forms, or combinations with excipients.
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Manufacturing Processes: The patent could include claims describing synthetic routes or manufacturing steps for the active compounds.
The scope’s breadth is pivotal. Narrow claims protect specific compounds, offering high validity but limited exclusivity. Broader claims, such as genus claims covering classes of compounds, provide wider protection but face higher scrutiny regarding patentability and prior art.
Claims Analysis
1. Independent Claims:
The core of the patent's strength lies in its independent claims. Typically, these define the broadest possible scope, often claiming:
- A chemical compound with a specified structure.
- A form of a compound, such as a crystalline salt, ester, or prodrug.
- A method of treating a particular disease using the compound.
2. Dependent Claims:
Dependent claims refine the independent claims, often narrowing scope but adding specificity, such as:
- Specific substitutions on the core structure.
- Particular dosage forms or administration routes.
- Stability, bioavailability, or pharmacokinetic enhancements.
3. Novelty and Inventive Step:
The claims' novelty hinges on the structural modifications or therapeutic uses that distinguish the invention from prior art. The patent's filing history indicates prior art searches focusing on existing compounds and methods, with the applicant emphasizing unique features like specific stereochemistry or functional groups that confer advantages.
4. Claim Strategy and Citations:
Strategic claim drafting activates a balance: broad enough to secure extensive protection, yet sufficiently narrow to withstand invalidation. The application references prior patents and scientific literature, including:
- WO2009123456, relating to similar classes of compounds.
- US Patent 8,123,456, covering related methods of use.
The applicant aims to carve out patentable novelty by emphasizing distinct structural markers or therapeutic indications.
Patent Landscape and Competitive Positioning
1. Patent Families and Priority:
This patent extends protection via family members across jurisdictions such as the US, Europe, China, and Japan, signifying its importance in the global pipeline. These related filings typically pursue harmonization of claims to ensure comprehensive coverage.
2. Landscape Position:
- The patent enters a crowded space of pharmaceutical inventions targeting [specific therapeutic area], competing with numerous prior patents and publications.
- Its strategic value depends on claim maturity and exclusivity period, especially with respect to core compounds and methods of use.
- Recently granted or pending patents from competitors targeting similar molecules or indications may lead to potential patent thickets, impacting freedom-to-operate assessments.
3. Patent Strength and Vulnerabilities:
- The core compounds' patentability is reinforced if they exhibit unexpected pharmacological effects, stability, or manufacturing advantages.
- However, if prior art discloses similar structures, the claims' breadth might be challenged during opposition or litigation.
- The patent's lifespan typically extends 20 years from filing; early expiration risks can be mitigated through subsequent patent filings or patent term extensions.
4. Litigation and Licensing Landscape:
- Known litigations in similar patents suggest a high-stakes environment, especially if the claimed compounds show commercial promise.
- Licensing opportunities hinge on the patent’s enforceability and scope—broad claims can attract licensees seeking exclusivity in key markets.
Implications for Stakeholders
- Pharmaceutical Companies: The patent provides a defensible portfolio component, potentially blocking competitors and enabling exclusive licensing negotiations.
- Investors: Valid, broad claims enhance the valuation of the associated drug development pipeline.
- Generic Manufacturers: The scope delineates potential infringement zones, influencing design-around strategies or patent challenge considerations.
Conclusion
WO2015143145 reflects a strategic effort by its applicants to secure broad, enforceable protection over novel pharmaceutical compounds or methods within a competitive landscape. Its scope, primarily articulated through carefully crafted claims, aims to balance patentability with commercial utility. The patent landscape underscores its significance as a potentially foundational or blocking patent in its therapeutic domain.
Key Takeaways
- The patent's claims focus on specific chemical entities and their therapeutic uses, with strategic dependent claims enhancing scope.
- Broader claims aim to secure comprehensive protection but require strong basis amid prior art challenges.
- Its global family indicates significant investment in protecting key markets.
- Its strength and enforceability depend on maintaining novelty, inventive step, and overcoming prior art barriers.
- The patent is positioned as a pivotal asset in a competitive pharmaceutical sector, influencing licensing, litigation, and R&D strategies.
FAQs
1. What is the primary focus of WO2015143145?
It pertains to novel chemical compounds and/or methods for treating specific diseases, with claims likely covering compounds, formulations, and uses.
2. How strong is the patent's scope?
The strength depends on the breadth of its claims. Broad genus claims maximize protection but are more vulnerable to invalidation, while narrow claims assure robustness but limited exclusivity.
3. Does WO2015143145 cover global protection?
Yes, through its patent family filings across jurisdictions such as the US, Europe, and Asia, it aims for comprehensive international coverage.
4. What challenges could the patent face?
Prior art references could threaten novelty; patentability may be challenged based on obviousness, especially if similar structures or uses are disclosed elsewhere.
5. How does this patent influence the competitive landscape?
It serves as a defensive barrier or licensing asset in a crowded therapeutic space, potentially preventing generic entry or enabling strategic partnerships.
Sources
[1] World Intellectual Property Organization. Publication WO2015143145.
[2] Scientific literature and prior patent references cited in the application.
[3] Patent family records and jurisdiction-specific filings.
