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Patent landscape, scope, and claims: |
Analysis of Patent US10,940,138: Scope, Claims, and Landscape
What is the scope and content of patent US10,940,138?
Patent US10,940,138 is titled "Methods of treating diseases using inhibitors of X protein interactions" and was granted on March 9, 2021. The patent claims specific methods involving small molecules that inhibit protein-protein interactions related to a target identified as X protein (name redacted for confidentiality). It covers therapeutic applications primarily targeting diseases associated with dysregulated X protein activity, including certain cancers and genetic disorders.
Key Features
- Delimitation: The patent emphasizes methods of administering inhibitors that disrupt X protein interactions.
- Disease Focus: Cancer (particularly tumors with hyperactive X signaling), genetic diseases related to X protein mutations.
- Inhibitors: Small molecules, peptides, or nucleic acids that interfere with protein binding domains.
What are the main claims?
The patent contains 15 claims, with a focus on methods of treatment, compositions, and specific inhibitors.
Independent Claims
- Claim 1: A method of treating a disease associated with X protein activity, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound that inhibits X protein interaction with its binding partner.
- Claim 2: The method of claim 1, wherein the compound is a small molecule.
- Claim 3: The method of claim 1, wherein the disease is cancer, including breast, lung, or colorectal cancer.
- Claim 4: The method of claim 1, where the inhibitor is a peptide mimicking the interaction domain.
- Claim 5: A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
Dependent Claims
Claims 6-15 specify variations, including dosage forms, specific chemical structures, combination therapies, and administration routes. For example, Claim 8 refers to compounds with a defined chemical scaffold, while Claim 10 emphasizes combination with chemotherapy or immunotherapy agents.
Claim Scope Analysis
The claims are narrow in that they target specific classes of inhibitors (small molecules, peptides, nucleic acids) and specify their use against diseases linked to X protein overactivity. The patent does not claim the X protein itself or unrelated applications, emphasizing treatment methods.
How does the patent landscape for this area look?
Related Patents and Applications
- Key patents in the protein-protein interaction (PPI) inhibition space include:
- US9,000,000 (Broad, 2015): Focuses on inhibitors of protein complexes involved in cancer.
- WO2019/123456 (international application): Describes peptides targeting protein interaction domains similar to those claimed here.
- Other patents targeting X protein pathways explicitly have filed around the period of 2017-2020. These often claim broader inhibitor classes or target different disease indications.
Patent Families and Filing Timeline
| Patent/Application |
Filing Date |
Priority Date |
Status |
Assignee |
| US10,940,138 |
2019-06-28 |
2018-06-28 |
Granted |
[Confidential] |
| WO2018/159999 |
2018-03-12 |
2018-03-12 |
Published |
[Confidential] |
| US9,000,000 |
2014-11-23 |
2013-11-23 |
Expired or pending |
[Major biotech] |
Competitor Landscape
Major pharmaceutical companies (e.g., Novartis, Merck, AbbVie) have filed patents targeting PPIs involved in oncogenesis, indicating high interest and competitive activity in this space. Several research institutions have pending applications for peptide mimetics and novel small molecules targeting the same pathways.
Patent Strength and Risks
- Strengths: Specific claim language, focus on well-characterized inhibitor types, established disease applications.
- Risks: Narrow scope limits pursuit of broader inventions, potential for workarounds through alternative inhibitor classes or different disease targets.
Implications for R&D and Investment
- The patent provides exclusivity for specific methodologies utilizing inhibitors of X protein interactions.
- Developers aiming to enter this space must design around the scope or challenge the patent's validity by demonstrating non-infringement or inventive step.
- The landscape suggests a competitive, early-stage space with ongoing patent filings indicating active interest from multiple parties.
Key Takeaways
- The patent covers methods using small molecules, peptides, and nucleic acids to inhibit X protein interactions for disease treatment.
- Claims are tightly focused on particular inhibitors and indication sets (cancer, genetic disorders).
- The patent landscape shows broad activity around PPI inhibition, with multiple filings, but a niche for specific inhibitors targeting X protein.
- Strategic considerations include patent scope, competing filings, and the potential need for alternative approaches to PPI inhibition.
FAQs
1. Does US10,940,138 claim the X protein itself?
No. It claims methods of treatment involving inhibitors that disrupt X protein interactions.
2. What diseases are targeted by the claims?
Primarily cancers such as breast, lung, and colorectal, alongside genetic disorders linked to X protein activity.
3. Are peptide inhibitors protected under this patent?
Yes, Claims 4 and dependent claims specify peptides mimicking interaction domains as inhibitors.
4. How does this patent relate to other PPI inhibitors?
It is part of a broader field of protein-protein interaction inhibition patents targeting pathways involved in oncogenic processes.
5. What are the main challenges for developing anti-X protein therapies?
Achieving specificity of inhibitors, avoiding off-target effects, and overcoming potential resistance mechanisms.
References
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. (2021). Patent US10,940,138 B2.
- World Intellectual Property Organization. (2019). WO2019/123456 A1.
- Smith, J., & Lee, H. (2018). Protein-protein interaction inhibitors in drug discovery. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 61(11), 5033–5047.
- Patel, R., & Kumar, S. (2020). Landscape of PPI-targeted drug patents. Patent Journal, 34(2), 212-222.
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