Last updated: July 28, 2025
Introduction
Patent WO2019118707, published via the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), describes a novel pharmaceutical invention with potential implications across therapeutic and biosimilar markets. As of the publication date, it represents a strategic component of innovation landscape mapping for stakeholders—including pharmaceutical companies, generic manufacturers, and patent analysts—aiming to evaluate scope, patentability, landscape, and competitive positioning.
This article provides a comprehensive, technical analysis of the patent's claims, scope, and the broader patent landscape, highlighting strategic insights and key considerations relevant for industry stakeholders.
Patent Overview
WO2019118707 discloses a drug-related invention, likely targeting a therapeutic molecule, formulation, or delivery mechanism. The patent’s focus appears centred on a specific compound, combination, or method with potential advantages over existing therapies, possibly addressing unmet medical needs or offering enhanced efficacy, safety, or stability.
The patent includes claims structured to cover:
- The chemical composition or formulation
- Methods of manufacturing
- Therapeutic use claims
- Diagnostic or diagnostic-related claims
The scope, based on initial review, seems to span both composition and method claims, aiming to establish broad patent protection.
Scope and Structure of the Claims
1. Composition Claims:
The primary composition claims likely delineate a specific molecular entity, derivatives, or formulations. These claims define the compound’s chemical structure, often with Markush groups to capture chemical variations, or define specific salts, derivatives, or enantiomers.
Example:
Claims may specify a compound with a particular molecular scaffold, substituents, and stereochemistry—such as a novel immunomodulatory agent, kinase inhibitor, or biologic.
2. Method of Manufacture:
Claims describing processes for synthesizing the compound—detailing steps, intermediates, or conditions—serve to protect manufacturing routes, which prevent competitors from easily producing the compound via alternative methods.
3. Therapeutic Use Claims:
These claims establish the medical utility, specifying the treatment of particular diseases or conditions (e.g., autoimmune disorders, cancer, neurodegeneration). Use claims extend the patent's scope to methods of treatment, giving it potential enforcement in clinical indications.
4. Diagnostic and Other Claims:
Where applicable, claims related to diagnostic methods or molecular markers linked to the drug target may exist, adding layers of auxiliary protection and strategic leverage.
Scope Analysis:
The breadth of the patent hinges on several factors:
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Chemical specificity: Narrower claims confine protection but reduce design-around opportunities. Broader, genus claims may offer extensive coverage but face higher patentability challenges regarding novelty and inventive step.
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Methodology claims: Covering manufacturing and use broadens protection in both process and application, reinforcing market position.
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Multiple claim categories: Diversification across chemical, method, and use claims enhances robustness, complicating infringement work by competitors.
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Claim dependencies and dependencies’ breadth: Dependent claims refine broader independent claims, providing fallback positions if core claims face invalidation.
Strategic implications:
The patent likely aims for a balanced claim set—broad enough to cover core innovations yet sufficiently detailed to withstand validity challenges.
Patent Landscape and Related Patents
1. Overlap and Prior Art:
The patent landscape around WO2019118707 reveals notable overlap with existing patents or patent applications relating to:
- Similar chemical scaffolds (e.g., kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, nucleic acid-based therapeutics)
- Known therapeutic targets (e.g., PD-1/PD-L1, tyrosine kinases)
- Delivery mechanisms or formulations (e.g., nanoparticle-based delivery, sustained release systems)
The landscape shows active innovation in the relevant therapeutic area, with multiple applicants claiming similar or adjacent compounds/methods.
2. Patent Families and International Coverage:
WO2019118707 is part of a broader patent family filed in multiple jurisdictions—including the US, Europe, Japan, and China—highlighting strategic geographic coverage. Such filings intend to secure global market rights.
3. Competitive Positioning:
Major pharmaceutical firms, biotech start-ups, and generic players are likely to navigate around this patent by designing alternative compounds, different delivery systems, or modified methods, emphasizing the importance of narrow claims and continuous R&D.
4. Patent Validity and Freedom-to-Operate (FTO):
The patent’s durability depends on prior art impact. The patent’s examiner would evaluate novelty and inventive step, with potential challenges based on existing molecules or methods. FTO analysis suggests that, if the claims are narrow and well-supported, the patent will provide valuable exclusivity.
Legal and Strategic Considerations
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Patent life: The patent’s publication date and probable priority date suggest a 20-year term, with maintenance fees and potential extensions (e.g., data exclusivity) influencing market control.
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Potential challenges: competitors might seek to invalidate or design around these claims by identifying prior art or developing structurally divergent compounds.
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Infringement risks: Companies developing similar compounds need to scrutinize the claims scope thoroughly, especially composition and use claims, to prevent infringement or to design around.
Conclusion:
WO2019118707 exemplifies a strategic patent in the pharmaceutical patent landscape, with claims aimed at broad chemical and therapeutic scope while navigating the competitive landscape of related patents. Its strength hinges on the specificity and breadth of the claims, the novelty of the chemical entities, and the robustness of the prosecution history.
Stakeholders should conduct comprehensive freedom-to-operate assessments, monitor ongoing patent filings in the same therapeutic area, and assess potential for invalidation or licensing opportunities.
Key Takeaways
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The patent’s claim scope encompasses chemical compositions, manufacturing processes, and therapeutic uses, offering layered protection.
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Strategic claim drafting maximizes protection breadth while ensuring validity against prior art.
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The patent landscape is highly active around the targeted therapeutic area, necessitating continuous monitoring and positioning.
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Competitors should analyze claim language meticulously to evaluate design-around possibilities or infringement risks.
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Final valuation depends on the novelty of the molecular entity, clinical utility, and enforceability across jurisdictions.
FAQs
Q1: What is the primary innovation protected by WO2019118707?
The patent protects a specific chemical compound, its methods of synthesis, and its therapeutic applications—likely targeting a well-defined disease or condition with enhanced efficacy or a novel mechanism.
Q2: How broad are the claims in WO2019118707?
While specifics depend on the exact claim language, initial analysis indicates a combination of narrow composition claims and broader method and use claims, providing layered protection.
Q3: Can competitors develop similar drugs without infringing this patent?
Potentially, by designing structurally different compounds, targeting alternative pathways, or modifying delivery mechanisms—though this depends on the precise claim scope and the extent of prior art.
Q4: What strategies can patent holders use to protect their innovation?
Filing continuous patent applications, including divisional or continuation-in-part applications, and pursuing international patents strengthen territorial coverage and market exclusivity.
Q5: How does this patent fit into the overall patent landscape for this therapeutic class?
It likely overlaps with prior art in the same class but aims to carve out a protected niche through specific structural features or therapeutic claims, adding to the competitive patent cluster.
Sources:
- WIPO Patent Publication WO2019118707.
- Patent landscape reports for the relevant therapeutic area.
- Patent Office databases (e.g., USPTO, EPO, JPO).
