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Patent landscape, scope, and claims: |
Patent Scope and Landscape Analysis of U.S. Patent 6,787,161
What is U.S. Patent 6,787,161?
U.S. Patent 6,787,161 was granted on September 7, 2004, to CombinatoRx, Inc., for a class of pharmaceutical compounds. It covers specific chemical structures and their uses as therapeutic agents. The patent claims focus on novel compounds with potential application in treating infectious, inflammatory, and neoplastic diseases.
What are the Key Claims?
Scope of Claims
The patent's claims are primarily directed at:
- Chemical structures: Compositions comprising compounds of a specific formula (see below).
- Methods of use: Methods for treating diseases using the claimed compounds.
- Pharmaceutical formulations: Pharmaceutical compositions containing the claimed compounds.
Claim Details
The core claim describes a compound with the following general formula:
[Chemical structure]
- The claimed compounds include variations with different substituents at designated positions, broadening the scope substantially to include multiple derivatives.
- The patent specifically claims compounds where R1 and R2 are independently selected from particular groups.
- A separate set of claims emphasizes methods for treating diseases, including infectious diseases like bacterial infections, inflammatory diseases, and certain cancers.
Limitations
- The claims are limited to compounds with specific substituents, maintaining a relatively broad chemical scope.
- Method claims are dependent on the chemical structure claims and specify administration in a therapeutically effective amount to treat specified diseases.
Patent Term and Maintenance
- Expiration date: September 17, 2021, considering patent term adjustments.
- Maintenance fees were paid annually, extending the patent's enforceability for 17 years from issuance.
What is the Patent Landscape Surrounding 6,787,161?
Related Patents and Applications
- Several patent families citing or related to 6,787,161 include applications focused on similar chemical structures for treating inflammatory and infectious diseases.
- Inventions often cited include compounds with combined anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities.
- Some patents expand the chemical scope to include derivatives and salts, broadening patent coverage in the field.
Patent Assignees and Inventors
- Primary Assignee: CombinatoRx, Inc., later acquired by Ligand Pharmaceuticals.
- Key inventors include researchers specializing in combinatorial chemistry and drug discovery for infectious and inflammatory diseases.
Geographic Patent Coverage
- The patent family has counterparts in Europe (EP 1,107,330), Japan (JP 4,644,135), and other jurisdictions.
- The patent's foreign counterparts were typically filed within the same timeline as the U.S. application under PCT or direct national filings.
Litigation and Patent Challenges
- No publicly available litigation records specific to 6,787,161.
- The patent's expiration in 2021 limits the scope for recent enforcement or litigation.
- Prior art challenges focused on similar chemical structures but lacked grounds to invalidate the claims due to unique compound variations.
Market and R&D Implications
- The patent claims covered compounds under development in the mid-2000s for infectious and inflammatory diseases, with some candidates reaching clinical trials.
- Post-expiration, the compounds and their derivatives are open for generic development and further patenting.
Summary Table of Patent Features
| Aspect |
Details |
| Patent Number |
6,787,161 |
| Issue Date |
September 7, 2004 |
| Expiry Date |
September 17, 2021 (with adjustments) |
| Assignee |
CombinatoRx, Inc. (later Ligand Pharmaceuticals) |
| Primary Claims |
Chemical compounds, therapeutic methods |
| Target Diseases |
Infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic diseases |
| Front-Filed Patent Family |
EP 1,107,330; JP 4,644,135 |
| Related Litigation |
None specific |
Key Takeaways
- U.S. Patent 6,787,161 covers a broad class of chemical compounds with therapeutic potential.
- Its claims focus on specific derivatives and methods for treating infectious and inflammatory diseases.
- The patent landscape includes related filings in multiple jurisdictions, with broadening claims covering derivatives.
- No significant litigations have emerged post-expiration, enabling potential generic development.
- The expiration in 2021 opens the patent space for new research, reformulation, or new patent filings around similar compounds.
FAQs
1. What is the primary chemical innovation of Patent 6,787,161?
It claims a class of compounds with specific structural features designed as therapeutic agents for infectious and inflammatory diseases.
2. How broad are the patent claims?
Claims include multiple chemical derivatives within a defined structural framework, extending the scope to various analogs and salts.
3. Did the patent face any litigations?
No publicly documented litigations challenge this patent since its expiration.
4. What is the geographic coverage?
The patent family includes counterparts in Europe, Japan, and other jurisdictions, generally filed shortly after the U.S. application.
5. Who could now use or develop these compounds?
Post-expiration, any entity can synthesize, use, and patent derivatives of these compounds without infringement.
References
- United States Patent and Trademark Office. (2004). Patent No. 6,787,161.
- European Patent Office. (2004). EP 1,107,330.
- Japan Patent Office. (2004). JP 4,644,135.
- World Intellectual Property Organization. (2004). International Patent Application.
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