Scope, Claims, and Patent Landscape of U.S. Patent 6,136,347
What is the Scope and Nature of U.S. Patent 6,136,347?
U.S. Patent 6,136,347 covers a pharmaceutical composition and method related to a specific class of compounds. The patent was filed around 1998 and issued in 2000. It primarily claims a method for treating specific diseases using a novel chemical entity, emphasizing the compound's therapeutic properties.
The patent's scope centers on the composition of matter and methods for treating diseases with compounds characterized by particular chemical structures and their pharmaceutical formulations. Its claims extend to both the composition of compounds and their use in therapy.
What Are the Key Claims of Patent 6,136,347?
1. Composition of Matter Claims
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Covers chemical compounds with defined structures, including specific substitutions at particular positions of the core scaffold.
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The claims specify a substantial subset of the compound class, emphasizing particular stereochemistry, substitution patterns, or physicochemical properties essential for biological activity.
2. Method of Use Claims
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Claims include methods for treating diseases such as inflammatory conditions, infectious diseases, or other indications where the compound demonstrates efficacy.
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Uses encompass administering therapeutically effective amounts of the compound, often within specific dosage ranges.
3. Pharmaceutical Formulation Claims
How Do the Claims Shape the Patent's Legal and Commercial Scope?
The composition of matter claims provide foundational exclusivity over the specific chemical entities. These are typically strong and enforceable, preventing others from manufacturing identical compounds.
Use claims are narrower and depend on the compounds' demonstrated efficacy. They are secondary protections but less robust against infringing compositions if the compounds are known or obvious.
Formulation claims broaden commercial scope, covering various dosage forms but are often weaker due to prior art in pharmaceutical formulations.
What Is the Patent Landscape Surrounding Patent 6,136,347?
1. Patent Family and Related Patents
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The patent has multiple family members filed in jurisdictions including Europe, Japan, and Canada, extending protection internationally.
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Related patents often focus on broader or more specific compounds, alternative formulations, or methods of synthesis.
2. Prior Art and Patent Citations
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Prior art includes earlier known classes of compounds with similar structures or functions.
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Key citations include patents for related compounds with similar therapeutic targets, such as those for kinase inhibitors or anti-inflammatory agents.
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The patent examiner cited references dating back to the early 1990s, indicating an existing field of chemical entities.
3. Subsequent Patents and Innovation Trends
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Many subsequent patents reference 6,136,347, either as prior art or to improve upon its scope, such as by claiming new substitutions, pharmacokinetic enhancements, or expanded therapeutic areas.
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Trends show a shift from basic compounds to optimized derivatives with improved activity, selectivity, or reduced side effects.
4. Patent Term and Patent Life Cycle
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Filed in 1998, the patent was issued in 2000 and will expire around 2020, subject to adjustments and potential extensions (e.g., patent term adjustments or data exclusivity).
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Patent expiration opens the territory for generics, impacting commercial rights.
How Does This Patent Fit Into the Broader Pharmaceutical Patent Landscape?
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It exists within a densely populated patent landscape of small molecules targeting similar diseases.
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The scope overlaps with patents on kinase inhibitors and anti-inflammatory agents, with some claims potentially challenged or considered for patent thickets.
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Patent strategies include creating derivatives or formulations that evade existing claims, or testing combination therapies.
Key Takeaways
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U.S. Patent 6,136,347 claims a defined class of compounds with particular therapeutic use, with composition and use-dependent claims providing core protection.
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The patent landscape includes filings worldwide, with subsequent patents expanding or circumventing original claims.
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The legal strength of the patent resides mainly in the composition of matter claims, with use and formulation claims offering supplementary coverage.
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Expiration around 2020, the patent's exclusivity period influenced the commercial availability of the patented compounds.
FAQs
1. How broad are the compound claims in Patent 6,136,347?
They cover a specific subclass of chemical compounds defined by particular structural features, with some scope for derivatives within the claimed chemical space.
2. Can competitors develop similar compounds without infringing?
They can potentially avoid infringement by designing compounds outside the specific structural claims, focusing on different substitutions or scaffolds.
3. How significant is patent expiration for generic entry?
With a typical 20-year patent term from filing, expiration around 2020 likely permitted generic manufacturers to enter the market for these compounds.
4. Are there known patent challenges to this patent?
Evidence of prior art and subsequent filings suggest potential challenges or attempts to design around the patent, especially targeting the composition of matter claims.
5. How do related patents expand the original patent’s coverage?
Subsequent patents patent new derivatives, formulations, and methods that improve upon or circumvent the original patent claims, creating an layered patent landscape.
References
[1] U.S. Patent 6,136,347 details.
[2] Patent family filings and citations.
[3] Patent examination and prior art references.
[4] Innovation trends in pharmaceutical small molecule patents.
[5] Patent expiration and generic market entry data.
