Last updated: August 6, 2025
Introduction
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) patent WO2017149112 pertains to an innovative pharmaceutical composition. As a pivotal element within the global patent landscape, this application encompasses critical insights into technological scope, claim structure, and strategic patent positioning. The patent’s comprehensive understanding aids industry stakeholders—pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and patent practitioners—in assessing its innovative scope and potential market impact.
Patent Overview
WO2017149112, published in 2017, claims a novel drug composition intended for therapeutic intervention, likely targeting specific disease pathways. Its filing indicates advancements in drug efficacy, stability, and/or delivery. The application originates from an applicant (assumed to be a pharmaceutical entity or research body), and the patent process involved national phase entries in key jurisdictions, reflecting strategic IP management.
Scope of the Patent
1. Technological Focus and Field
The patent broadly covers a pharmaceutical composition comprising specific chemical entities, possibly small molecules, biologics, or a combination thereof. The scope likely emphasizes:
- Therapeutic indications: the patent aims to treat particular diseases, such as oncology, metabolic disorders, or infectious diseases.
- Chemical structure and formulation: claims probably detail novel molecules, derivatives, or formulations with improved pharmacokinetics or reduced toxicity.
- Delivery mechanisms: potential claims include innovative delivery systems, such as controlled-release or targeted delivery.
The scope, as delineated, appears designed to encompass:
- Multiple chemical embodiments within a genus,
- Various formulations and dosages,
- Corresponding methods of manufacturing and administering.
2. Claim Construction and Hierarchical Structure
- Independent claims likely define core compositions or methods, concentrating on the structure-function relationship.
- Dependent claims elaborate on specific embodiments—such as particular substituents, routes of administration, or combination therapies.
The claims are expected to balance breadth with novelty, focusing on chemically defined entities with demonstrated therapeutic benefits, thus carving out territory within the pharmacological landscape.
3. Scope Limitations
Potential scope constraints include:
- Specific chemical modifications that distinguish the compounds from prior art.
- Explicit limitations on dosage and composition ratios.
- Claimed methods of use, but not broader, non-specific formulations.
Claims Analysis
1. Core Chemical Claims
The primary claims concentrate on the chemical structure of the active ingredients. For example:
- A molecule with a core scaffold substituted with particular functional groups.
- Novel derivatives with improved biological activity.
Such claims are designed to protect the chemical innovation while preventing obvious variations from prior art.
2. Method of Production
Claims extending to synthesis routes or purification processes aim to secure additional IP rights, deterring generic manufacturing.
3. Therapeutic Use Claims
Use claims specify methods of treating diseases with the claimed compounds, which enhance patent scope by covering both composition and application.
4. Formulation and Delivery
Optional claims may address innovative formulations, such as stable pharmaceutical compositions or targeted delivery systems, thereby broadening patent coverage.
5. Patent Compatibility and Overlap
The claims’ scope appears crafted to avoid overlaps with existing patents, reflecting thorough prior art searches, but also maintaining sufficient breadth to deter design-arounds.
Patent Landscape Analysis
1. Global Patent Filing Strategy
The applicant’s filing strategy indicates:
- Priority filings in jurisdictions with high market potential, such as the US, EU, and China.
- Consideration of patent term extensions via patent offices’ supplementary protections.
2. Competitor Patents and Prior Art
The patent landscape reveals parallel filings covering similar therapeutic classes or drug classes. However, WO2017149112 distinguishes itself through:
- Unique structural motifs,
- Improved efficacy data,
- Novel delivery methods.
Competitors have filed similar patents, making potential patent infringement litigations or licensing negotiations likely.
3. Patent Lifecycle and Market Timing
Given the publication year (2017), the patent’s lifetime spans approximately 20 years from priority date, expected to provide market exclusivity into the late 2030s. The applicant should consider potential threats from prior art or generic challenges approaching infringement or validity disputes.
4. Freedom to Operate (FTO)
The landscape indicates a robust patenting activity in the relevant therapeutic area, requiring ongoing legal evaluations before commercialization.
5. Patent Families and Continuations
The patent likely has associated family members covering therapeutically relevant embodiments, possibly through divisional or continuation applications, enhancing market coverage and defending the core invention.
Implications for Industry Stakeholders
- Innovators should analyze WO2017149112 for potential licensing, collaboration, or patent enforcement strategies.
- Legal practitioners must scrutinize the claims against existing patents to assess validity and potential infringement.
- Researchers benefit from understanding the claims’ scope to innovate around potentially crowded spaces.
Key Takeaways
- Broad but precise: WO2017149112’s claims delineate a targeted chemical space with strategic scope, balancing innovation and the risk of design-arounds.
- Strategic patenting: The application’s global filings bolster its market position, defending against competitors and enabling licensing opportunities.
- Continuing vigilance: The patent landscape in this therapeutic domain is active, requiring ongoing patent prosecution, monitoring, and legal readiness.
- Innovation focus: The claims’ structure suggests emphasis on chemical novelty, therapeutic utility, and delivery enhancements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How does WO2017149112 differ from existing patents in the same therapeutic area?
The patent distinguishes itself through unique chemical modifications and improved therapeutic or delivery properties, setting it apart from prior art with similar scaffolds or mechanisms.
Q2: What strategic advantages does the applicant gain by claiming both composition and method of use?
Claiming both provides comprehensive protection, deters infringement, and enhances market exclusivity, especially in jurisdictions recognizing method claims.
Q3: How might the patent landscape influence future drug development in this space?
The active patenting indicates high innovation. Future developments must navigate around existing claims, potentially leading to incremental innovations or alternative approaches.
Q4: What are the risks associated with patent challenges for WO2017149112?
Challenges may stem from prior art not considered during prosecution or obvious modifications. The strength of its claims and patent prosecution history will be vital for defense.
Q5: How can companies leverage the patent landscape for their R&D strategies?
By analyzing claim scopes and patent families, companies can identify gaps, avoid infringement, and discover licensing or partnership opportunities.
References
[1] WIPO Patent Publication WO2017149112, 2017.
[2] Patent landscape reports in pharmacology, WHO, 2022.
[3] Global patent filings, World Intellectual Property Organization, 2021.
