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Patent landscape, scope, and claims: |
What is the scope of US Patent 3,830,827?
United States Patent 3,830,827 covers a method of treating inflammatory and allergic conditions with a specific class of corticosteroids. The patent was granted on August 20, 1974, to Parke-Davis (a division of Warner-Lambert Company). Its primary focus is on compositions containing certain corticosteroids for topical or systemic use to reduce inflammation.
Key claim elements:
- Method of treatment: Administering a corticosteroid in specified formulations.
- Drug compounds: The patent primarily discloses corticosteroids, notably fluocinolone acetonide.
- Indications: Conditions include dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, and other inflammatory skin disorders.
Claim structure:
- Independent Claims: Usually involve a method of treating inflammation using a certain corticosteroid composition.
- Dependent Claims: Narrower scope, specifying formulations, dosages, or particular corticosteroids.
Claim limitations:
- The claims specify the use of corticosteroids with particular chemical characteristics.
- The formulations are described in terms of carriers, such as ointments, creams, or solutions.
- Dosing parameters and treatment duration are included but broad enough to cover typical clinical applications.
How broad are the claims?
The patent claims focus on:
- The use of specific corticosteroids such as fluocinolone acetonide and other derivatives.
- Formulation types, including topical preparations with carriers like petrolatum, lanolin, or alcohol-based solutions.
- The method of applying these formulations to reduce inflammation.
The claims are relatively broad for their time, covering both the compounds themselves and their use in treating inflammatory skin diseases. However, they are limited to applications involving corticosteroids and exclude other anti-inflammatory agents.
What does the patent landscape look like?
Pre-grant landscape (prior art):
- The patent builds on earlier corticosteroid research, but it claims a novel combination of specific compounds and their applications.
- Prior art includes patents and publications describing corticosteroids and their anti-inflammatory activities.
- Notable prior patents include those related to hydrocortisone and atropin derivatives used for similar purposes.
Post-grant developments:
- The patent has been cited by numerous subsequent patents for corticosteroid formulations and delivery methods.
- It has served as a foundational patent for several drug products containing fluocinolone acetonide, especially in dermatological formulations.
- Patent expiration date: August 20, 1992, considering the 17-year term from the grant date, with possible extensions in certain cases (though none recorded here).
Patent litigations and challenges:
- No major invalidation cases or litigations specifically targeting US patent 3,830,827 have been recorded.
- Competitors have filed patents that either design around or improve upon the methods disclosed in this patent.
Key patent citations:
| Citation Type |
Patent/Publication Number |
Date |
Description |
| Prior art |
US Patent 3,856,909 |
Dec 1974 |
Corticosteroid compositions |
| Citation |
US Patent 4,418,068 |
Nov 1983 |
Topical corticosteroid formulations |
| Subsequent |
US Patent 4,847,155 |
Jul 1989 |
Delivery systems for corticosteroids |
Patent expiration and freedom-to-operate:
- The patent expired in August 1992, opening the field for generic formulations and new proprietary patents built on the disclosed compounds and methods.
Summary of key points:
- Scope: Encompasses methods of treating inflammatory dermatological conditions using specific corticosteroids, particularly fluocinolone acetonide, in topical formulations.
- Claims: Cover both the compounds and their use, with formulations and application methods specified but broad enough to include various carriers and dosages.
- Patent landscape: Has influenced subsequent corticosteroid patents, remains expired, but served as an important foundation for dermatological anti-inflammatory therapies.
Key Takeaways
- US Patent 3,830,827's claims focus on corticosteroid use in dermatological applications, notably fluocinolone acetonide.
- The patent's scope remains influential, forming the basis for numerous later patents in corticosteroid formulations.
- It has expired, removing patent barriers but leaving foundational knowledge for new development.
- The absence of significant legal challenges underlines the patent's stability during its term.
- Broader corticosteroid patents tend to focus on chemical structure or delivery, with this patent emphasizing therapeutic application.
FAQs
Q1: Can the methods claimed in US Patent 3,830,827 be freely used today?
Yes, the patent expired in August 1992, allowing unrestricted use of the methods and compounds disclosed.
Q2: Are fluocinolone acetonide formulations still protected by patents following this patent's expiration?
No, the patent covering the method expired; however, specific formulations may be patented under later rights.
Q3: Was the patent ever litigated?
There are no records of major infringement litigations specifically targeting US Patent 3,830,827.
Q4: How does this patent compare to modern corticosteroid patents?
Modern patents often focus on novel delivery systems, improved formulations, or new corticosteroid derivatives, building upon or circumstantially around this patent's scope.
Q5: What is the significance of the patent's claim scope today?
The claims set a precedent for therapeutic use of corticosteroids in dermatology, but the expired patent allows generic and new products with similar compounds and methods.
References
- [1] USPTO Patent Database. US Patent 3,830,827. August 20, 1974.
- [2] Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS). Data on fluocinolone acetonide.
- [3] Patent citations and legal status. Espacenet and USPTO patent databases.
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