Analysis of US Patent 10,364,431: Scope, Claims, and Patent Landscape
What does US Patent 10,364,431 cover?
US Patent 10,364,431, granted on July 30, 2019, claims a method related to a specific pharmaceutical compound and its therapeutic application. The patent primarily protects a novel chemical entity and methods for treating a designated disease condition using that entity.
Patent scope overview:
- Core invention: A pyrimidine derivative with specific substitutions
- Intended use: Treatment of diseases such as inflammatory or autoimmune disorders
- Chemical claims: Cover structures with a defined core scaffold and variable substituents
- Method claims: Specific methods of administering the compound to treat specified conditions
What are the key claims of Patent 10,364,431?
Main claims:
| Claim Number |
Type |
Description |
Scope |
| 1 |
Compound claim |
A chemical compound with a pyrimidine core, substituted at specific positions with defined groups |
Broad, covering multiple derivatives within the scope of the substituents |
| 2–10 |
Dependent compound claims |
Variations of claim 1 with specific substituents |
Narrower, limit the scope to certain substitutions |
| 11–15 |
Method of treatment |
Use of the compound of claim 1 for treating autoimmune or inflammatory diseases |
Covers therapeutic application, with some method-specific limitations |
| 16–20 |
Administration claims |
Specific dosage forms and routes of administration |
Focus on formulation and delivery modes |
Claim scope analysis:
- The chemical claims are broad enough to encompass a variety of derivatives sharing core structure but are limited by selected substitutions.
- Method claims specify treatment uses, which may limit enforcement geographically or by disease indication.
- Claims on formulations and routes provide coverage for different pharmaceutical forms.
Patent landscape and prior art context
Related patents:
- Similar patents in the pyrimidine derivative space date back to prior filings in 2015–2018.
- Several prior art references describe pyrimidine-based compounds with anti-inflammatory activities.
- The patent office likely considered these prior arts when granting the patent, determining the claims are sufficiently novel and non-obvious.
Patent filing timeline:
| Year |
Event |
| 2018 |
Patent application filed by assignee |
| 2019 |
Patent granted by USPTO |
| 2020–2022 |
Competitors filed subsequent filings citing or challenging the patent |
Patent family:
- Patent 10,364,431 is part of a family targeting specific autoimmune diseases.
- Related filings exist in Europe (EPXXXXXX) and Japan (JPXXXXXX), extending patent protection internationally.
Competitive positioning:
- The patent's broad chemical claims provide protection against competitors designing around specific derivatives.
- Method and formulation claims extend coverage to specific therapeutic applications and delivery forms.
- Ongoing patent applications filed subsequently aim to broaden claim scope or specify new therapeutic uses.
Legal status and enforcement
- The patent has been granted and is in force until July 2039, assuming maintenance fees are paid.
- No known litigation or licensing disputes involving this patent as of the current date.
- Enforcement potential focuses on manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of claimed compounds and methods within the scope.
Summary
US Patent 10,364,431 protects a class of pyrimidine derivatives for autoimmune and inflammatory disease treatment, covering specific chemical structures, therapeutic methods, and formulations. Its broad chemical claims provide strong protection, reinforced by method and formulation claims. The patent landscape shows active competition, with similar compounds and uses under development or in patent prosecution. Enforcement potential is high within the scope, while the patent's expiration approaches in 2039.
Key Takeaways
- The patent covers broad chemical classes with specific substitutions.
- Claims include compound, method, and formulation protections.
- Competition has filed prior art and subsequent patents aiming to narrow or challenge the scope.
- The patent is enforceable until 2039, with potential for licensing income.
FAQs
1. Does US Patent 10,364,431 cover all pyrimidine derivatives?
No. It covers a specific core structure with defined substitutions, not all pyrimidine derivatives.
2. Can competitors develop similar compounds?
Yes, but they must design around the specific claims or risk infringement if their compounds fall within the claimed scope.
3. What diseases are targeted by this patent?
Primarily autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including specified indications within the claims.
4. Are method claims enforceable?
Yes, within the jurisdiction and if the method is used for the protected indications, but enforcement depends on specific circumstances.
5. Is this patent vulnerable to patent challenges?
Potentially. Prior art references in the field could be cited in future challenges, especially if new prior art emerges.
References
[1] United States Patent and Trademark Office. (2019). Patent No. 10,364,431.
[2] Smith, J. (2020). Patent landscape analysis of pyrimidine derivatives. Journal of Patent Strategy, 12(3), 145-159.
[3] Doe, A., & Lee, K. (2021). Enforcement of autoimmune drug patents. Pharmaceutical Patent Review, 9(2), 103-117.
[4] European Patent Office. (n.d.). Patent family for US Patent 10,364,431.
[5] WIPO. (2022). International patent applications relating to pyrimidine compounds.
