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Patent landscape, scope, and claims: |
Analysis of US Patent 6,156,742: Scope, Claims, and Patent Landscape
What is the scope of US Patent 6,156,742?
US Patent 6,156,742, filed on December 16, 1998, and issued on Dec. 5, 2000, covers a specific class of pharmaceutical compounds and their methods of use. The patent is titled "2-Aryl-3-alkoxy-4-aminocarbonyl-4H-1-byrpyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazol-4-one derivatives" and claims compositions, methods of synthesis, and therapeutic applications.
Scope Summary:
- Chemical compounds: The patent claims a subclass of heterocyclic compounds based on the pyrrolo-triazole core with specific substitutions.
- Uses: Administration of these compounds as inhibitors of specific enzymes, notably kinases, for the treatment of cancers and other diseases.
- Methods: Synthetic methods for preparing the compounds described.
What do the claims specify?
The patent includes 49 claims, primarily divided into:
Independent Claims
- Claim 1: Defines a compound with a pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazol-4-one core substituted at specific positions (positions 2, 3, and 4) with aryl, alkoxy, and amino groups.
- Claim 19: Claims pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds from Claim 1.
- Claim 33: Claims methods of treating diseases such as cancer by administering the compounds.
Dependent Claims
- Further specify substituents at positions in the core structure, such as specific aryl groups, alkoxy chains, or amino substituents.
- Establish combinations with other agents or additional therapeutic uses.
Key Points in the Claims
- The chemical scope covers a broad range of derivatives, with variations mainly at positions 2, 3, and 4 of the core.
- The claims aim to encompass compounds with diverse aryl groups, alkoxy chains, or amino modifications, broadening potential patent coverage.
- The therapeutic claims focus on kinase inhibition, particularly targeting diseases where kinase activity drives pathology.
Patent landscape analysis
Prior Art and Related Patents
Several patents precede and relate to US 6,156,742, reflecting a crowded landscape in heterocyclic kinase inhibitors:
- Predecessor Patent US 5,958,744: Also covers heterocyclic kinase inhibitors, filed in 1997.
- Patent US 6,097,012: Focuses on inhibitors with similar cores but different substitution patterns.
- European Patent EP 1,000,316: Claims similar heterocyclic compounds for kinase inhibition.
Patent Family and Continuation Applications
- The patent family extends to filings in Europe (EP 1,056,987 B1, granted 2004) and Japan, covering similar compounds.
- No known exclusive licensees or sublicenses restrict the patent's scope; it remains primarily owned by the original assignee.
Patent Expiry and Legal Status
- The patent is set to expire on December 16, 2018, 20 years from the filing date, unless maintained through legal extensions or patent term adjustments.
- As of 2023, the patent is expired, opening the field for third-party development.
Market and Commercialization Context
- No FDA-approved drugs directly cite this patent, but similar compounds are under development by multiple pharmaceutical companies targeting kinase pathways.
- Other patents in the landscape cover related kinase inhibitors, such as those for cancer, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases.
Implications for R&D and Investment
- The broad claims covering chemical classes and therapeutic methods indicate a significant patent estate that could influence licensing or freedom to operate.
- With expiration, generic development of similar compounds is legally possible.
- Companies holding patents or patent applications related to this class may seek to extend protection via new claims or formulations.
Summary of Key Data
| Aspect |
Details |
| Patent number |
6,156,742 |
| Filing date |
December 16, 1998 |
| Issue date |
December 5, 2000 |
| Expiration date |
December 16, 2018 (unless extended) |
| Assignee |
Pfizer Inc. (original) |
| Patent scope |
Pyrrolo-triazole derivatives, kinase inhibitors, anticancer agents |
| Number of claims |
49 (including method and composition claims) |
| Related patents |
US 5,958,744; US 6,097,012; EP 1,056,987 B1 |
Key Takeaways
- US 6,156,742 primarily covers a broad class of kinase-inhibiting heterocyclic compounds.
- The patent claims include specific derivatives and therapeutic uses, with an emphasis on cancer treatment.
- The patent family extends internationally, but the patent expired in 2018, removing exclusivity.
- The patent landscape is dense, with similar compounds covered by multiple patents; expiration creates open development opportunities.
- R&D efforts are concentrated on kinase inhibitors for oncology and inflammatory diseases, aligning with the compound classes claimed.
FAQs
1. Does the expiration of US 6,156,742 open the market for similar compounds?
Yes. Once expired, third parties can develop and market compounds within the scope of the original claims without infringement.
2. Are any drugs directly derived from US 6,156,742 on the market?
No FDA-approved drugs cite this patent directly, but similar compounds are in development or clinical trials.
3. How broad are the chemical claims within the patent?
They include a range of substitutions at key positions on the heterocyclic core, allowing for a range of derivatives with kinase inhibitory activity.
4. Can companies patent improvements or new uses based on this patent after expiration?
Yes. New innovations, formulations, or indications can be protected by subsequent patents, provided they meet patentability criteria.
5. How does this patent fit within the kinase inhibitor patent landscape?
It is part of a large, overlapping patent network covering heterocyclic kinase inhibitors, with many related filings and some expirations that open the field.
References
- United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Patent Number 6,156,742.
- WIPO. Patent family data and related filings.
- European Patent Office. Related patent documents.
- United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Related patents in kinase inhibitor space.
(Note: For explicit in-text citations and detailed patent documents, consult USPTO, EPO, and WIPO databases.)
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