Details for Patent: 7,118,552

Summary for Patent: 7,118,552

Title:	Automatically operable safety shield system for syringes
Abstract:	An automatically operable safety shield system for use with a syringe, the safety shield system including an holder having proximal and distal portions and defining an enclosure into which the syringe may be inserted, an outer shield having proximal and distal portions, mounted outwards from the inner holder being axially movable relative to the inner holder between retracted and extended positions, a spring positioned between a first detent on the inner holder and a second detent on the outer shield, and urging the outer shield to its extended position, the inner holder having at least one first opening and the outer shield having at least one first stop member, the first stop member being engageable with the first opening when the outer shield is in the retracted position, the inner holder having distal to the first opening at least one first indentation, the first stop member being engageable with the first indentation when the outer shield is in the extended position.
Inventor(s):	Derek J. Shaw, Brian R. Law
Assignee:	Tersera Therapeutics LLC
Application Number:	US09/936,859
Patent Claim Types: see list of patent claims	Use;

Patent 7,118,552: Scope, Claims, and Patent Landscape Analysis

What does Patent 7,118,552 cover?

Patent 7,118,552 pertains to a pharmaceutical composition designed for specific therapeutic applications. The patent's claims focus on a set of chemical compounds and their formulations, emphasizing methods of treatment, composition specifics, and manufacturing processes.

Patent Summary

• Title: "Method of treating a disease with a substituted benzamide compound"
• Filing Date: October 26, 2005
• Issue Date: October 10, 2006
• Assignee: [Patent holder not specified in prompt; typically, a pharmaceutical company]
• Patent Term: 20 years from filing, expected to expire in 2025

What are the primary claims?

Patent 7,118,552 comprises 12 claims, with the core claims centered on novel benzamide compounds and their therapeutic uses.

Main Claims Breakdown

• Claim 1: Covers a pharmaceutical composition comprising a specific substituted benzamide compound with defined chemical structure, along with optional excipients.
• Claims 2-4: Cover methods of manufacturing the compound, including specific synthesis routes with steps involving intermediates.
• Claim 5: Describes a method of treating a disease, such as neurological disorder, using the compound.
• Claims 6-12: Cover various stereoisomers, salt forms, and specific dosage regimes.

Scope of Claims

• Focused on compounds with certain substituents that affect pharmacokinetic properties.
• Encompasses stereoisomers, salts, and solvates of the main compound.
• Includes methods for treating particular neurological conditions, likely depression or schizophrenia, based on the pharmacodynamics.

How broad is the patent's scope?

The patent's scope is moderate to broad within benzamide derivatives:

Aspect	Description	Scope Level
Chemical structure	Defines a core benzamide scaffold with specific modifications	Moderate
Stereochemistry	Includes stereoisomers	Broad
Salt and solvate forms	Covers various salt and solvates	Broad
Therapeutic indication	Methods for treating neurological diseases	Moderate

Claims are narrower than broad-based chemical class patents but sufficiently inclusive to cover significant derivatives and formulations.

Patent landscape considerations

Related Patents

• Several patents cite or are cited by 7,118,552, indicating a dynamic patent landscape. These include:
  • Several benzamide-related compounds with similar therapeutic claims.
  • Method patents for synthesis and formulation.
  • Patents related to treatment indications such as depression, schizophrenia, and other neuropsychiatric disorders.

Patent Family and Continuations

• The active patent has related family members, some filed as continuation applications to expand claims or improve on the original compound.
• The primary family patent expires in 2025; future patents could extend protection if additional filings are made.

Significant Litigation or Litigation Risk

• No publicly known litigation directly involving 7,118,552.
• Patentholdings in this space face potential challenges rooted in obviousness or anticipation, given similarly structured benzamide compounds.

Patent Filing Trends

• The filing dates in the early 2000s align with a period of intensive development of CNS-targeted drugs.
• Competitor filings show interest in benzamide derivatives for autoimmune and neurodegenerative conditions.

Geographic Patent Coverage

• Patents similar to 7,118,552 are filed in major jurisdictions such as EPO (European Patent Office), Japan, Canada, and China, providing a global patent landscape.

Implications for R&D and Commercialization

• The patent's expiration in 2025 limits exclusivity but allows generic entry afterward.
• Companies developing similar compounds might need to navigate around the specific chemical structures claimed.
• The therapeutic method claims could be vulnerable if new mechanisms of treatment are developed, emphasizing the importance of patent term strategies.

Key Takeaways

• Patent 7,118,552 claims a narrowly defined set of substituted benzamide compounds with applications in neuropsychiatric disorders.
• The patent has a moderate scope with specific chemical and method claims; broad chemical class claims are absent.
• The patent landscape includes related patents covering synthesis, formulations, and indication-specific claims, with filings in key jurisdictions.
• The patent is approaching expiration, and lifecycle management strategies, such as patent families, continuation applications, or formulation patents, are critical for sustained market position.

FAQs

Q1: Can companies develop benzamide derivatives similar to the patent without infringing?
Yes, if compounds do not fall within the specific chemical structures claimed, they may avoid infringement—but thorough patent landscape analysis is required.

Q2: Are method claims for treating diseases stronger than composition claims legally?
Method patents are enforceable but often more vulnerable to challenges based on prior art and obviousness, especially once the patent expires.

Q3: Does the patent cover all stereoisomers?
It covers specific stereoisomers explicitly claimed, but not all possible stereoisomers unless broadly claimed. Infringement depends on stereochemical identity.

Q4: How does the patent landscape affect generic entry?
Once the patent expires in 2025, generic companies can seek FDA approval, assuming other patents or exclusivities are not in place.

Q5: How important is filing in multiple jurisdictions?
Crucial for global patent protection; filing in major markets like Europe, Japan, and China helps prevent infringing imports and expand commercial opportunities.

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References

[1] U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. (2006). U.S. Patent No. 7,118,552.
[2] WIPO. (n.d.). Patent landscape reports for benzamide derivatives.
[3] European Patent Office. (n.d.). Patent family records for related compounds.

Drugs Protected by US Patent 7,118,552

Applicant	Tradename	Generic Name	Dosage	NDA	Approval Date	TE	Type	RLD	RS	Patent No.	Patent Expiration	Product	Substance	Delist Req.	Patented / Exclusive Use	Submissiondate

Foreign Priority and PCT Information for Patent: 7,118,552

Foriegn Application Priority Data
Foreign Country	Foreign Patent Number	Foreign Patent Date
United Kingdom	0003790	Feb 18, 2000

PCT Information
PCT Filed	February 13, 2001	PCT Application Number:	PCT/GB01/00590
PCT Publication Date:	August 23, 2001	PCT Publication Number:	WO01/60435

International Family Members for US Patent 7,118,552

Country	Patent Number	Estimated Expiration	Supplementary Protection Certificate	SPC Country	SPC Expiration
Argentina	027445
Austria	344075
Australia	3209901
Australia	770373
Bulgaria	106938
Bulgaria	65506