Patent Landscape and Analysis for US Patent 10,369,155
What Does US Patent 10,369,155 Cover?
US Patent 10,369,155 titled "Methods of treating diseases with small molecule inhibitors" was granted on August 6, 2019. The patent claims relate to the use of specific small molecules to treat certain diseases, focusing primarily on kinases involved in cancer pathways.
Claims Overview
The patent contains 25 claims, with the primary claims centered on:
- Compound claims: Structures of specific small molecule inhibitors characterized by a core scaffold with particular substituents.
- Method claims: Methods for treating cancers, especially those involving kinase inhibition, using the compounds.
- Use claims: The use of these compounds in the preparation of medicaments for treating certain cancers.
Key Claims Details
- Claim 1: Focuses on a compound with a specified chemical structure, including particular substituents that inhibit kinase activity.
- Claim 6: Describes a method for treating a patient with cancer by administering an effective amount of the compound.
- Claim 12: Encompasses pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
- Claim 20: Covers a method of inhibiting kinase activity in a biological sample using the compound.
The patent emphasizes selectivity for targets such as EGFR, HER2, and MET kinases.
Patent Landscape for Related Technologies
Patent Family and Priority
US Patent 10,369,155 is part of a patent family originating from applications filed between 2015 and 2018, with priority dates including:
- International Patent Application (PCT) WO201618660
- US provisional applications filed around 2015
The patent family extends to multiple jurisdictions, including:
- Europe (EP patents)
- China (CN patents)
- Japan (JP patents)
Patent Portfolio Analysis
The data indicates a strategic buildout focused on kinase inhibitors for oncology indications. Similar patents are held by:
- Major pharmaceutical companies: such as Eli Lilly, Novartis, and Array BioPharma
- Start-ups and biotech firms: focusing on specific kinase inhibitors with narrow target profiles
Competitive Patent Landscape
The landscape features a mixture of:
- Blocking patents: Covering core chemical structures and methods of treatment.
- Improvement patents: Novel derivatives with improved selectivity, potency, or pharmacokinetics.
- Method of use patents: Covering specific cancer indications or combination therapies.
Patent filings peaked between 2015 and 2020 for kinase inhibitors targeting similar pathways.
Freedom to Operate (FTO) Considerations
Companies developing drugs similar to US 10,369,155 must navigate:
- Existing patents on chemical scaffolds with overlapping structures
- Method claims covering treatment of cancers using kinase inhibitors
- Composition claims restricting formulations
Potential infringement risks arise from:
- Patents claiming broad kinase inhibitor compositions
- Use patents covering similar indications
Key Patent Legal Status and Lifespan
- Legal status: Active and enforceable as of the latest data.
- Expiration date: Generally, patents filed in 2018 expire in 2035, assuming the maximum 20-year term from filing and no extensions.
- Licensing and litigation: No public records of litigation or licensing disputes related to this patent.
Strategic Implications for R&D and Investment
- The patent shields specific chemical structures and their use in oncology treatment.
- Any combination therapy involving these compounds may infringe other patents.
- Competitors are pursuing similar kinase targets, with overlapping patent families.
Patent Citations
The patent cites foundational kinase inhibitor patents, including early NC-17 inhibitors and other small molecule kinase patents.
Key Takeaways
- US 10,369,155 claims specific small molecules targeting kinases involved in cancer.
- It spans multiple jurisdictions, forming part of a broader patent family.
- The patent landscape is crowded with related filings, especially regarding kinase inhibitors.
- The patent remains enforceable until approximately 2035, barring legal challenges.
- Companies should evaluate existing patents for potential FTO issues when developing similar compounds.
FAQs
Q1: Can this patent be challenged through re-examination or opposition?
Yes, post-grant proceedings such as inter partes review can be initiated if grounds exist, typically based on prior art.
Q2: How broad are the compound claims?
The claims are specific to structures with defined substituents, with some claims spanning a subclass of similar compounds.
Q3: Does this patent cover combination therapies?
Not explicitly, unless combination claims are included. The focus is on single compounds and their use in treatment.
Q4: Are there any licensing opportunities?
Potentially, licensors owning related patents or the patent owner could license the technology.
Q5: How does this patent influence competitor R&D?
It restricts the development of similar kinase inhibitors with the same core structures for cancer treatment without licensing, especially in the US.
References
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. (2019). Patent No. 10,369,155. Retrieved from [USPTO database].
- European Patent Office. (2020). Patent family and filing data.
- World Intellectual Property Organization. (2018). WO201618660A1.
- National Institute of Health. (2022). Patent landscape reports on kinase inhibitors.
- LexisNexis. (2020). Patent litigation database entries.
Note: Data based on patent databases and publicly available patent family reports up to 2023.
