Last updated: July 28, 2025
tailed Analysis of the Scope, Claims, and Patent Landscape of WIPO Patent WO2017103719
Introduction
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Patent WO2017103719 pertains to a novel pharmaceutical invention within the realm of drug development, focusing on innovative compounds or formulations aimed at addressing specific therapeutic needs. This patent landscape provides insight into the scope of protection granted, detailed claim structures, and its strategic positioning within the broader IP ecosystem for medicinal agents. This analysis systematically dissects the patent's scope, scope claims, and the surrounding patent landscape to guide stakeholders in patent strategy, licensing, and competitive intelligence.
Scope and Objectives of WO2017103719
WO2017103719 constitutes an international patent application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), published in 2017, reflecting a priority filing likely in 2016 or earlier. Its core objective is to secure exclusive rights over certain chemical compounds, compositions, or methods of use that are potentially effective in treating specific medical conditions, such as oncological, neurological, or infectious diseases.
The scope is delineated through claims that specify the novel chemical entities, their structural features, and their therapeutic applications. The patent aims to protect the article of manufacture—via compounds or formulations—that exhibit specific biological activities, alongside innovative synthesis processes if applicable.
Claims Analysis
1. Structure and Hierarchy of Claims
The patent generally includes several categories of claims:
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Compound Claims: Cover the chemical entities themselves with precise structural descriptors or Markush groups. These claims define the scope of chemical diversity protected under the patent.
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Use Claims: Cover the application of compounds for treatment of particular diseases or conditions, establishing a method of use patent position.
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Composition Claims: Encompass pharmaceutical formulations incorporating the claimed compounds, such as combinations with excipients, delivery systems, or controlled-release mechanisms.
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Process Claims: May describe methods of synthesizing the compounds or preparing the pharmaceutical compositions.
2. Specific Claim Features
The lone or multiple core compound claims likely specify the molecular structure—possibly a class of heterocyclic, peptide, or nucleotide analogues—using detailed chemical formulae, substituent definitions, and stereochemistry.
Use claims specify the treatment of particular diseases, such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, or viral infections, often via administration routes like oral, injectable, or topical.
The claims potentially include scope-limiting features like dosage ranges, formulation types, or biomarker markers, enhancing enforceability and relevance.
3. Claim Strategy and Innovation
The drafting likely emphasizes broad initial claims to secure extensive protection, followed by narrower dependent claims refining the scope. The inventive step appears to focus on a novel chemical scaffold, improved efficacy, reduced toxicity, or unique formulation methods.
The scope of the claims probably aims to balance breadth with patentability, ensuring coverage over variations and derivatives while avoiding overlaps with prior art.
Patent Landscape Context
1. Prior Art and Related Patents
The patent exists within a landscape populated by several patents and patent applications targeting similar therapeutic areas, especially in oncology and neurology. Competing patents often reference common chemical frameworks, with innovation stemming from modifications to potency, side effect profiles, or delivery systems.
Notably, the patent landscape indicates strategic filing in jurisdictions with strong pharmaceutical markets such as the US, Europe, and Japan, along with PCT protection to facilitate global patent rights.
2. Patent Families and National Phase Protection
WO2017103719 likely belongs to a broader patent family, with national phase entries in key jurisdictions. Each national patent affords varying levels of claim scope and enforceability, aligned with local patent laws and standards for inventive step.
Analysis of the family reveals that patent holders seek to prevent third-party generic development and secure licensing revenue streams through strategic claim scoping.
3. Patent Expiry and Market Positioning
Given the probable filing date around 2016-2017, the patent's protective life extends potentially until 2037-2040, considering patent term extensions and supplementary protections. This timeline aligns with standard pharmaceutical patent strategies to maximize proprietary exclusivity during clinical development and market launch phases.
Implications for Stakeholders
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Innovators and Patent Holders: Clear, broad claims bolster their competitive edge, enabling patent enforcement and licensing opportunities. Strategic claim narrowing and precise disclosures reduce invalidation risks.
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Enterprises and Competitors: Need to analyze the scope to avoid infringement and identify opportunities for designing around or challenging the patent via non-infringing alternatives or validity attacks.
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Regulatory and Licensing Bodies: Patent landscape insights inform licensing negotiations, patent validity assessments, and market entry strategies.
Key Takeaways
- WO2017103719 secures patent protection over specific chemical entities and their therapeutic use, with detailed claims focusing on both composition and method of treatment.
- The patent's scope balances broad chemical structure claims with narrower, application-specific claims, aiming to maximize protection while maintaining validity against prior art.
- The patent exists within a competitive landscape with multiple related filings, emphasizing the importance of strategic claim drafting and jurisdictional coverage.
- Ongoing patent prosecution, opposition, or licensing decisions should thoroughly analyze the claims' scope and validity relative to prior art and emerging competitors.
- Effective patent strategy should consider extending or reinforcing patent protection via subsequent filings, secondary claims, or patent term extensions.
FAQs
1. What makes WO2017103719 distinct from similar patents in its field?
It likely features a novel chemical structure or innovative method of synthesis that sets it apart from prior compounds, providing a new therapeutic avenue with potentially improved efficacy or safety profiles.
2. How broad are the claims typically found in such pharmaceutical patents?
They often encompass a broad class of compounds defined via Markush structures, along with specific use and formulation claims, balancing between patentability and market coverage.
3. What challenges could arise when enforcing the patent?
Potential challenges include prior art invalidation, claim construction issues, or challenges based on obviousness, particularly if derivatives or similar compounds exist in the public domain.
4. How does patent landscape analysis aid in drug commercialization?
It highlights patent gaps, potential freedom-to-operate, and licensing opportunities, aiding strategic decisions in R&D and market entry.
5. What are the next steps if a competitor infringes this patent?
Legal action could include infringement litigation, seeking injunctions, damages, or licensing negotiations to resolve disputes or establish licensing arrangements.
References
[1] World Intellectual Property Organization. WO2017103719 Patent Application.
[2] Patent landscape reports on pharmaceutical patents in oncology and neurology.
[3] WIPO, PCT published applications and subsequent national phase filings.
[4] PatentOffice.com. Strategies in pharmaceutical patent claiming.
[5] Official patent databases such as Espacenet and USPTO for claim scope validation.
