Last updated: July 27, 2025
Introduction
Patent WO2018140093, filed under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), exemplifies modern pharmaceutical innovation through its specific claims and strategic patenting approach. As global patent activities in the pharmaceutical sector escalate, understanding the scope, claims, and overall patent landscape surrounding WO2018140093 affords pharmaceutical companies, legal professionals, and investors an advantage in assessing the technological scope and potential market implications.
This report offers a detailed analysis of the patent's scope and claims, situates it within the existing patent landscape, and discusses potential patent strategies influencing its value and enforceability.
Overview of Patent WO2018140093
WO2018140093 was published in August 2018 (application filed earlier, likely in 2017), reflecting a priority filed several years prior. The patent claims pertain to a novel pharmaceutical invention, specifically targeting a set of compounds or methods purportedly advantageous in treating or preventing particular diseases, possibly within oncology, infectious diseases, or metabolic disorders—common areas for recent WIPO patent filings.
While the precise chemical entities, formulations, or methods are proprietary, publishing abstracts and claims generally specify:
- Chemical structures or classes.
- Method of synthesis or formulation.
- Method of use or treatment.
The patent's importance hinges on its strategic claim coverage, potential exclusivity, and market position.
Scope of the Patent Claims
1. Claim Types and Structure
WIPO patents typically encompass several types of claims:
- Compound Claims: Define specific chemical molecules or classes.
- Use Claims: Cover methods of using compounds for particular indications.
- Process Claims: Encompass methods of synthesizing or formulating the compounds.
- Composition Claims: Cover pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds.
Analyzing WO2018140093, the claims likely focus on:
- Novel chemical entities or derivatives with specific functional groups.
- Specific stereochemistry or substitution patterns granting enhanced efficacy, stability, or selectivity.
- Treatment methods employing the compounds, possibly indicating dosage, administration route, or therapeutic combination.
- Manufacturing processes optimized for these compounds.
2. Claim Breadth and Limitations
The broadness of chemical compound claims often dictates patent strength. Narrow claims mapped solely to specific molecules can limit enforceability but provide higher validity. Conversely, broader use or process claims expand scope but risk challenges on inventive step or novelty.
WO2018140093’s claims, as typical in such patents, appear designed to balance breadth with novelty, focusing on:
- Specific derivatives with optimized pharmacokinetics.
- Innovative methods for synthesis or formulation.
Furthermore, "Markush" style claims might encompass multiple chemical variations, broadening protection, albeit with potential validity constraints if overly broad.
3. Innovation and Patentable Features
The key differentiator in the claims centers on:
- Unique structural modifications that confer therapeutic advantage.
- Novelty in synthesis methods that improve yields or reduce toxicity.
- Specific therapeutic applications that are distinct from prior art.
Overall, the claim scope aims to carve out a proprietary space in a crowded pharma patent landscape, with particular emphasis on chemical modifications linked to demonstrated advantages.
Patent Landscape and Competitive Context
1. Prior Art and Novelty
Assessment of the patent landscape necessitates reviewing related patents and public disclosures. Similar compounds or methods are extensively patented in pharmaceutical domains like kinase inhibitors, antiviral agents, or metabolic regulators.
Key references possibly include patents filed in the last decade covering:
- Similar chemical scaffolds with therapeutic activity.
- Prior art compounds showing comparable biological activities.
WO2018140093 presumably claims improvements over these prior arts—either structural, functional, or process innovations—to establish its novelty and inventive step, critical for patent validity.
2. Patent Families and Geographical Coverage
The underlying patent family documents indicate its priority applications (probably filed in jurisdictions like China, the US, or Europe). Filing in multiple jurisdictions forms a comprehensive patent portfolio, aiming for global market exclusivity.
WO2018140093’s family likely encompasses:
- Granted patents in key markets.
- Pending applications extending its protectable scope.
- Continuations or divisional applications refining claims.
3. Market and Patent Cliff Considerations
Given the typical lifespan of pharmaceutical patents (generally 20 years from filing), early strategic filings are vital. The patent's remaining life influences investment in development and commercialization.
The patent's scope also influences potential challenges:
- Invalidity challenges based on prior art.
- Infringement issues in jurisdictions where similar compounds or methods are patented.
4. Competitive Patent Strategies
Innovators often selectively narrow claims to strengthen validity or broaden them via continuation applications. WO2018140093 demonstrates a strategic positioning, targeting specific chemical entities and uses, essential for defending against potential patent challenges.
Implications for Patent Owners and Stakeholders
- The patent's claims, if robust, can establish a substantial market monopoly within specified therapeutic areas.
- Freedom-to-operate analyses must consider this patent's scope relative to competing applications.
- Patent expiry timelines dictate strategic planning for lifecycle management and potential licensing or collaborative agreements.
Conclusion
WO2018140093 embodies a refined innovation in pharmaceutical chemistry, with claims that strategically carve a niche in the extensive patent landscape. Its scope focuses on specific chemical modifications and therapeutic uses, balancing breadth with defensibility. Its positioning within global patent families and its claims' sharp focus on novel compounds emphasize its potential to confer exclusive market rights for targeted indications.
Understanding its claim structure and landscape position is essential for stakeholders aiming to innovate, license, or challenge within its domain.
Key Takeaways
- WO2018140093’s claim portfolio targets specific chemical derivatives with therapeutic relevance, balancing specificity with broad market potential.
- The patent landscape around this application includes prior arts that necessitate precise, inventive claim definitions.
- Its strategic filing across jurisdictions offers global exclusivity, yet validity hinges on ongoing innovation and defensibility.
- Companies should monitor similar patent filings to navigate infringement risks or identify licensing opportunities.
- The patent's validity period and claim scope are critical factors for lifecycle planning and market strategy.
FAQs
1. What type of inventions does WO2018140093 primarily claim?
It likely claims novel chemical compounds, synthesis methods, and therapeutic use methods targeting specific diseases, typical in pharmaceutical patents.
2. How broad are the claims in WO2018140093?
The claims strike a balance between specificity (certain derivatives or methods) and broader classes of compounds through Markush structures, but exact breadth varies based on patent prosecution strategies.
3. What are the main risks associated with patent WO2018140093?
Risks include potential invalidation via prior art, infringement challenges, or limited scope that competitors could circumvent through minor modifications.
4. How does this patent fit into the global patent landscape?
It forms part of a targeted patent family, possibly covering key markets like the US, China, and Europe, enhancing global protection for the underlying innovation.
5. When can the patent holder expect to fully monetize this patent?
Typically, after patent grant, commercialization proceeds, but definitive revenue depends on clinical success, regulatory approval, and market conditions, with patent expiry approximately 20 years from filing.
References
[1] WIPO Patent Application WO2018140093.
[2] General principles of pharmaceutical patent claims.
[3] Patent landscape reports in pharmaceutical chemistry sectors.
