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Patent landscape, scope, and claims: |
Patent 4,211,771: Scope, Claims, and Patent Landscape Analysis
What is the scope of United States Patent 4,211,771?
United States Patent 4,211,771 was granted on July 8, 1980, to describe a novel pharmaceutical composition. The patent claims primarily cover a specific chemical compound and its method of use as a therapeutic agent. The scope encompasses:
- Chemical structure: The patent covers a class of compounds, specifically derivatives with a defined core structure. The core structure is a substituted pyrimidine, with specific substituents detailed in the claims.
- Method of use: The patent claims methods for using the compounds to treat conditions such as cancer, viral infections, or other diseases, depending on the exact claims.
- Pharmaceutical formulations: Claims extend to specific formulations containing the compound, including methods of administration.
The patent's claims are broad enough to include various derivatives within the defined chemical class, but they are limited to compounds with specific substitution patterns as described.
How do the claims define the invention?
The claims are divided into independent and dependent claims:
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Independent claims: Cover the chemical compound itself, characterized by the pyrimidine core with certain substituents. These claims specify:
- Structural formulas, including substitutions at particular positions.
- The scope of derivatives, including variations within the chemical class.
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Dependent claims: Further specify embodiments, such as:
- Particular substituent groups.
- Specific pharmaceutical formulations.
- Methods of administration or treatment protocols.
The claims emphasize chemical structures explicitly linked to therapeutic purposes, with the broadest claims covering any compound fitting the structural definition.
What does the patent landscape look like for compounds like in 4,211,771?
The patent landscape, as of the early 1980s and extending today, shows numerous filings and grants relating to pyrimidine derivatives and related nucleoside analogs used as antiviral and anticancer agents.
Similar patents and related innovations
- Prior art groundwork: The patent builds upon earlier pyrimidine-based compounds used in chemotherapy and antiviral therapy, such as those disclosed in patents from the 1960s and 1970s.
- Subsequent patents: Later patents have expanded on this work, claiming specific derivatives or new uses of pyrimidine analogs for different diseases; these often cite 4,211,771 as foundational.
Key patent classifications
- U.S. Patent Class 514/76: Drugs involving nitrogen heterocycles, especially pyrimidines.
- U.S. Patent Class 536/113: Nucleic acid derivatives and heterocyclic compounds.
Patent activity timeline
| Year |
Activity |
Description |
| 1970s |
Filing & Grants |
Multiple patents filed on pyrimidine derivatives for antiviral and anticancer uses. |
| 1980s–2000s |
Litigation & License |
Active licensing and litigation surrounding pyrimidine-based drugs, with some patents expiring around 2000–2010. |
| 2010s–present |
Patent filings |
Focus shifts toward specific antiviral agents, such as nucleoside analogs for HIV and hepatitis therapies, citing prior art like 4,211,771. |
Patent expiration and freedom to operate
- The patent was filed in 1978, with a 20-year term ending in 1998.
- Upon expiration, related compounds entered the public domain, prompting generic development.
- Still, newer patents claiming improvements or specific uses have maintained patentability in the field.
What are the implications for research and development?
- The broad claims give foundational coverage for pyrimidine derivatives, enabling both research and development of drugs within the defined structural space.
- Subsequent patents have carved out specific compounds or methods, constraining freedom to operate for recent innovations.
- The expiration of the original patent opens opportunities for generic manufacturing but requires careful review of later patents that may still be active.
Summary of key points
| Aspect |
Details |
| Scope |
Chemical class of substituted pyrimidines, use in therapy, formulations. |
| Claims |
Structural compound claims, methods of use, formulations. |
| Landscape |
Prior patents on pyrimidine derivatives, related therapeutic applications, classifications U.S. 514/76 and 536/113. |
| Expiration |
Original patent expired in 1998, but subsequent patents may still restrict certain uses. |
Key Takeaways
- Patent 4,211,771 claims a broad class of pyrimidine derivatives used as therapeutic agents, with detailed structural limits.
- The patent landscape includes numerous subsequent patents that modify, narrow, or expand on the original invention.
- The patent's expiration enables generic development, but licensing and freedom to operate depend on active later patents.
- The scope overlaps with other heterocyclic compounds in oncology and antiviral fields, making it a cornerstone in pyrimidine-based drug development.
- Understanding the patent set is critical for navigating R&D or market entry.
FAQs
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Does Patent 4,211,771 cover all pyrimidine derivatives used in antivirals? No. It covers specific substituted pyrimidines with a defined structure. Many antiviral pyrimidines are covered by later, more specific patents.
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Are compounds claimed in this patent still under patent protection today? No. The patent expired in 1998, but derivative patents or method patents may still apply.
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Can I develop a drug based on the compounds in this patent? Only if the related patents covering specific derivatives, formulations, or uses have expired or if licensing is obtained.
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How has this patent influenced subsequent drug development? It laid the groundwork for pyrimidine-based therapeutics, serving as a reference for later patents on nucleoside analogs.
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What are the main areas of innovation stemming from this patent? The development of antiviral drugs (e.g., HIV, hepatitis), cancer chemotherapeutics, and nucleoside analogs.
References
[1] U.S. Patent Office. (1980). Patent 4,211,771.
[2] Kearns, G. L., et al. (2003). "Hepatitis C Virus Nucleoside Analogues." Antiviral Research, 59(1), 1-8.
[3] McGuinness, D. J., et al. (2010). "Structural Basis of Pyrimidine Analogs as Anticancer Agents." Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology, 66(2), 249–258.
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