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Patent landscape, scope, and claims: |
What is the scope and content of U.S. Patent 4,954,348?
U.S. Patent 4,954,348 was granted on September 4, 1990, to The Regents of the University of California. It covers a process for synthesizing a class of compounds, specifically 5-(substituted phenyl)-2-aminothiazoles, with potential pharmaceutical applications. The patent emphasizes methods for preparing these compounds, highlighting their chemical structures, including substituents on the phenyl ring, and their use in medicinal chemistry.
Key structural features claimed:
- Core structure: 2-aminothiazole with a 5-position phenyl substituent.
- Variations in the phenyl ring with different substituents, such as halogens, alkyl, alkoxy groups, or other functional groups.
- Methods for synthesizing these compounds, involving specific chemical reactions, such as cyclization and substitution reactions.
Patent claims:
The claims primarily cover:
- The chemical compounds themselves, including both specific compounds and a class of compounds with variations described.
- Methods of synthesizing such compounds, specifically steps involved in constructing the thiazole ring and attaching different phenyl substituents.
- Use of these compounds as pharmaceutical agents, particularly as anti-inflammatory or analgesic agents, though this may not be explicitly claimed in all claims.
The claims are typical of medicinal chemistry patents from the late 20th century, focusing on both the chemical entities and the processes for their production.
How broad are the claims?
The patent's claims cover a broad class of compounds, with specific embodiments outlined. Given the generic description of substituents on the phenyl ring, the patent encompasses numerous chemical variants. The methods of synthesis further extend the scope by providing a general route to similar compounds.
However, the scope does not extend to compounds with structures outside of the 2-aminothiazole core with phenyl substitutions, limiting coverage to similar heterocyclic architectures and derivatives.
What is the patent landscape surrounding U.S. Patent 4,954,348?
Related patents:
- Continuation and division filings: Related applications have been filed to modify or narrow claims, often aligned with specific substituents or use indications.
- Patent families: Several patents, including international equivalents (WO patents) and subsequent U.S. filings, expand coverage for related compounds and methods.
- Later patents: Additional patents have cited or built upon this patent, refining synthesis routes or claiming new therapeutic uses.
Competitive landscape:
- This patent, being filed in a period of active medicinal chemistry research, faces dense prior art, especially in heterocyclic chemistry and anti-inflammatory drug development.
- Major pharmaceutical companies and research institutions hold overlapping or similar patents in the thiazole class, creating a complex landscape with potential patent thickets.
- The patent's expiration date in 2008, considering a 20-year patent term from its filing date (June 4, 1987), ended in 2007, opening the space for generic development and research.
Patent citations:
- Cited patents focus on heterocyclic compounds, synthesis methods, and pharmaceutical applications, indicating an active patenting environment.
- Citing patents include those relating to anti-inflammatory agents, analgesics, and further derivatives with improved pharmacokinetics or activity profiles.
Historical and legal considerations
- The patent has likely played a significant role in protecting research and development efforts in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry during the late 20th century.
- With expiration, the original claims entered public domain, encouraging further innovation but also rendering previous generic or follow-on compounds non-infringing unless new patents were filed.
Summary of patent landscape:
| Aspect |
Details |
| Filing date |
June 4, 1987 |
| Issue date |
September 4, 1990 |
| Expiration |
September 4, 2007 (with term adjustments) |
| Patent family |
Includes application family filings and international equivalents |
| Key related patents |
Focus on heterocyclic compounds, anti-inflammatory drugs |
| Citations |
Prior and subsequent patents on heterocyclic actives and pharmaceutical compounds |
Key Takeaways
- U.S. Patent 4,954,348 protects a broad class of 2-aminothiazole derivatives with phenyl substitutions, including synthesis methods.
- Its claims cover both compounds and processes, but are limited to the heterocyclic core and phenyl derivatives.
- The patent landscape around this patent features numerous related patents, especially in heterocyclic chemistry and pharmaceutical applications.
- The patent expired in 2007, making the protected compounds available for further research and development without infringement concerns.
FAQs
1. Does this patent cover all 2-aminothiazole compounds?
No. It covers specifically 5-(substituted phenyl)-2-aminothiazoles with certain substitution patterns, not all 2-aminothiazoles.
2. Can companies now develop drugs based on these compounds?
Yes, after patent expiration in 2007, these compounds entered public domain, allowing unrestricted research and development.
3. Are there existing patents that extend the scope beyond this patent?
Yes, follow-on patents exist that claim related compounds, derivatives, or improved synthesis methods, often filed after 2007.
4. What therapeutic areas are associated with these compounds?
Primarily anti-inflammatory and analgesic applications, based on the original patent's descriptions and subsequent research.
5. How does this patent influence current drug development?
Its expiration encourages pharmaceutical innovation using these chemical scaffolds, though newer patents may restrict certain uses or derivatives.
References:
- U.S. Patent 4,954,348.
- Patent citation data from USPTO and PATENTSCOPE.
- Related literature on heterocyclic anti-inflammatory agents.
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