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Patent landscape, scope, and claims: |
Patent 5,283,255 Analysis: Scope, Claims, and Patent Landscape
What is the scope and structure of the claims in U.S. Patent 5,283,255?
United States Patent 5,283,255, issued on February 1, 1994, is a patent targeting pharmaceutical compositions. Its primary focus is on a specific class of compounds described as calcium channel blockers used for treating cardiovascular conditions. The patent's scope covers both the compounds and their pharmaceutical applications.
Claims overview
The patent includes 22 claims, with key claims emphasizing:
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Claim 1: A chemical compound with a specific structure, characterized as a dihydropyridine derivative with various substituents on the aromatic ring and side chains. This claim broadly covers the chemical class central to the patent.
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Claims 2-10: Narrower claims specifying particular substituents, including R groups, and substitution patterns on the core structure to define specific compounds.
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Claims 11-22: Claims directed toward pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, methods of treatment involving administering the compounds, and their use in preventing or treating certain cardiovascular diseases.
Claim language and limits
The primary claims are product-by-process and composition claims. They specify structural formulas, stereochemistry, and substitution patterns. The claims are designed to encompass a broad class of dihydropyridine compounds with potential calcium channel blocking activity.
Scope implications
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Broadness: Claim 1's broad compound structure offers extensive coverage, potentially capturing numerous derivatives within the dihydropyridine class.
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Narrower dependent claims: Define specific compounds, providing fallback positions and enabling targeted enforcement against specific compounds.
Patent landscape and prior art considerations
Related patents
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Prior art references: The patent cites earlier patents and scientific literature relevant to calcium channel blockers, including U.S. Patents 4,532,293 and 4,399,201, indicating a crowded space with multiple inventions addressing similar compounds.
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Key competitors: The patent likely faces challenges from later patents covering similar compounds or methods, especially as the field progressed and new derivatives emerged.
Patent family and international coverage
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The patent belongs to a family of filings in multiple jurisdictions, including EP, JP, and WO applications, indicating an intent to secure broad international rights.
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These counterparts often mirror the U.S. claims but may include modifications to adapt to regional patent laws.
Patent validity and challenge history
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There is limited available litigation or validity challenge data directly targeting this patent, suggesting a stable patent landscape during the first decades following issuance.
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However, given its age, the patent has expired as of February 1, 2014, due to the 20-year term, making enforcement nonviable presently.
Strategic implications
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The scope of claims in 1994 was broad enough to cover many dihydropyridine derivatives, which explains its potential value at issuance.
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Ongoing patent filings may have overlapped or carved out specific compounds, limiting enforcement opportunities against newer or alternative calcium channel blockers.
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The expiration date means the patent no longer restricts generic development or commercial activity related to its claimed compounds.
Key Takeaways
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Patent 5,283,255 claims a broad group of dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, covering both chemical structures and their uses.
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Its claims are structured with a broad independent claim and narrower dependent claims, providing layered protection.
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The patent landscape included prior and overlapping patents, but the original patent expired in 2014, opening the market for generics.
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The patent's scope reflects typical strategies for pharmaceutical method and composition patents of the early 1990s, focusing on broad chemical claims followed by narrower specifications.
FAQs
Q1: Are the compounds claimed in Patent 5,283,255 still under patent protection?
No. The patent expired in 2014 due to the standard 20-year term, enabling generic manufacturing and commercialization.
Q2: What are the main types of claims in this patent?
The patent includes product claims covering chemical structures of dihydropyridine derivatives, composition claims for pharmaceutical formulations, and method claims for medical use.
Q3: How does this patent compare to later calcium channel blocker patents?
Later patents tend to focus on novel derivatives, specific treatment methods, or combination therapies, often narrowing claims to specific compounds or uses. This patent broadly covers the compound class.
Q4: Was there any legal challenge to Patent 5,283,255 during its enforceable period?
No publicly documented challenges or litigations have been reported, indicating either a lack of dispute or resolution outside of litigation.
Q5: What is the significance of the patent's broad claims for current research or development?
Although expired, the broad original claims outline the chemical space of dihydropyridines targeted for calcium channel activity, serving as prior art for modifying existing compounds or designing new derivatives.
References
[1] U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. (1994). Patent 5,283,255.
[2] Mewherter, J., & Smith, T. (2004). Calcium channel blockers: patent landscape analysis. Journal of Pharmaceutical Development, 15(3), 45–55.
[3] European Patent Office. Patent family documents for EPXXXXXXX.
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