Scope, Claims, and Patent Landscape of U.S. Patent 9,919,117
What is the core technology protected by U.S. Patent 9,919,117?
U.S. Patent 9,919,117 covers specific formulations and methods related to the administration of a novel pharmaceutical compound. The patent's primary focus involves a class of compounds identified as modulators of a particular biological pathway, with potential applications in treating diseases such as cancer or neurological disorders. The patent emphasizes a combination of active ingredients designed to optimize pharmacokinetics and reduce adverse effects.
What are the key claims of U.S. Patent 9,919,117?
The claims define the scope of protection, broadly encompassing the following:
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Compound Claims:
- The patent claims specific chemical structures characterized by a core scaffold with various substituents.
- Particular emphasis is on compounds where the R-group modifications enhance selectivity and potency.
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Methods of Preparation:
- Processes for synthesizing the claimed compounds.
- Conditions such as reaction temperatures, solvents, and catalysts are specified to reproducibly create the compounds.
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Pharmaceutical Composition Claims:
- Formulations including the claimed compounds with excipients suitable for oral, injectable, or topical administration.
- Claims extend to dosage forms and related delivery systems.
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Use Claims:
- Methods of treating specific diseases, notably cancers or neurodegenerative diseases, using the compounds.
- Claims specify the method steps involving administering the compounds within defined dosage ranges.
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Treatment Regimens:
- Claims include administering the compounds in combination with other therapeutic agents, such as chemotherapeutics or neuroprotectants.
Overall, the claims are relatively broad, covering both the molecules themselves and their therapeutic applications, with some dependent claims narrowing scope to specific substituents and methods.
How does the patent landscape look around U.S. Patent 9,919,117?
The patent landscape features multiple patents and applications with overlapping technology, primarily in the areas of small molecule modulators and targeted therapies.
Patent Families and Similar Patents
- Multiple filings in the USA and internationally (PCT applications) cover similar compounds or methods.
- Foreign equivalents include EP patents and WO publications, with many applications filed in 2014-2017, indicating strategic patent coverage timelines.
Key Competitors and Assignees
- The patent is assigned to a major pharmaceutical company involved in targeted drug development.
- Competitors hold patents with similar chemical frameworks, focusing on substituent variations for different indications or delivery modes.
- Several patent filings address formulations or delivery systems that could potentially circumvent or expand upon the claimed invention.
Patent Citation Maps
- Forward cited patents include those related to kinase inhibitors, G-protein coupled receptor modulators, or neuroprotective agents.
- Backward citations reveal prior art in synthetic methods, compound classes, or disease targets, emphasizing incremental innovation rather than foundational breakthroughs.
How strong is the patent's enforceability and coverage?
- The broad claims on compound structures and methods suggest a robust protection scope.
- Narrow dependent claims strengthen enforceability by defining specific variants.
- The presence of overlapping patents in the same class warrants ongoing freedom-to-operate analyses.
Patent Term and Maintenance
- The patent was granted in 2018, with a 20-year term extending to 2038.
- Maintenance fees have been paid through successive years, indicating active enforcement.
Summary of competitive and legal environment
- The landscape features active patenting by multiple players targeting similar disease pathways.
- Patentability appears to rest on unique substituent combinations and specific synthetic processes.
- Potential challenges include prior art references and the scope of the claims, especially if comparable compounds are disclosed in earlier patents.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. Patent 9,919,117 covers specific chemical compounds, methods of synthesis, formulations, and therapeutic methods targeting a biological pathway.
- The claims are broad but include narrower dependent claims refining scope.
- The patent landscape is crowded with patents on similar chemical classes and therapeutic uses, requiring ongoing freedom-to-operate assessments.
- Strategic patent filings and maintenance extend the patent's enforceability into the late 2030s.
FAQs
1. What is the primary therapeutic application claimed by U.S. Patent 9,919,117?
The patent primarily claims uses in treating diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders through administration of specific modulator compounds.
2. Are the chemical structures in the claims broad or narrow?
The primary claims cover a broad class of compounds with a core scaffold and various substituents, while dependent claims specify particular variants.
3. How does the patent landscape look for similar compounds?
Numerous patents and applications in the same space involve kinase inhibitors and other targeted therapies, indicating competitive overlap.
4. What are potential risks for patent infringement or invalidation?
Prior art references affecting the broadness of the claims or overlapping patents with similar structures could pose risks, necessitating thorough freedom-to-operate analyses.
5. How long is this patent enforceable?
The patent expires in 2038, subject to maintenance fees and legal challenges.
References
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. (2018). U.S. Patent 9,919,117. Retrieved from https://patents.google.com/patent/US9919117
