Why is Chemical Patents Searching a Complex Process?

Why Chemical Patents Searching is a Complex Process? World Intellectual Property Organizations (WIPO) reports that individuals frequently patent chemical compounds as one of the most common types of innovations. In 2021, global patent filings increased by 3.6%. Trademark filings increased by 5.5%. Global patent filings exceeded 3.4 million, while trademark filings totaled 18.1 million. According to a Royal Society of Chemistry report, the total number of new chemical compounds reported in scientific literature more than doubled between 1985 and 2015, rising from around 500,000 to more than 1 million per year. 

This rise in the number of new compounds published is largely due to technological and analytical advances that make it easier to synthesize and analyze new compounds.  Furthermore, there is a growing interest in discovering new compounds for applications in fields such as materials science, medicine, and energy, which has fueled research efforts in these areas. 

According to some estimates, millions of chemical compounds have been patented, especially in industries such as biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, since there is a high demand for new chemical compounds with specific properties and potential applications. 

Chemical Patents

People do not treat chemical patents in the same way that they treat traditional scientific literature. Instead, they are regarded as highly technical documents reserved for principal scientists or senior executives making multi-million dollar IP decisions. When scientists create a new chemical compound, they frequently patent it. Lawyers rather than chemists write chemical patents, and they make them complicated to protect the compound rather than expose it.

They are lengthy and frequently ambiguous, often comprising the names of 3,000 chemical compounds when the patent only applies to one. 

People frequently name chemical compounds in a systematic manner based on their structure, using various prefixes and suffixes to represent the elements in the compound. A single typo in a long string of letters can break the entire compound, making it impossible to recreate. In general, people sometimes introduce small errors into patent documents. This is done to prevent the use of information.

Types of Chemical Patent Claims 

One may utilize various types of chemical patent claims to protect chemical compounds and their applications. The following are some of the most common types of chemical patent claims: 

Composition Claims 

These claims cover the chemical compound itself, specifying the compound’s specific chemical structure or formula. 

Method of Preparation Claims 

These claims encompass the process or method utilized to prepare the chemical compound, outlining the specific steps and conditions needed to create the compound. 

Method of Use Claims 

These claims cover the chemical compound’s specific applications or uses, mentioning the particular purpose for which the compound can be used. 

Process Claims 

These claims cover the specific process used to create a chemical compound, detailing the steps and conditions required to create the compound. 

Formulation Claims 

These claims cover the specific formulas or ingredient combinations used to make a product that includes the chemical compound, specifying the specific proportions and ingredients used to make the product. 

It should be noted that the type of claim used will be determined by the particular aspects of the invention being protected. One may use a combination of these claim types to fully protect the chemical compound and its uses. Furthermore, the specific wording and language used in the claims is critical to the patent’s success, so it’s critical to use highly sophisticated patent search software, such as Novelty Checker, to review the existing patent information and do competitive landscaping and trend analysis, which are backed up by comprehensive research and analytics services.

Chemical Compound Patent Examples 

The following are some well-known chemical patents:

1. Gore-Tex: Gore-Tex is a waterproof and breathable material that is made of a patented polymer known as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), which was developed by W.L. Gore. Gore & Associates, Inc.
2. Viagra: Sildenafil citrate is a patented chemical compound sold under the brand name Viagra by Pfizer. Doctors prescribe it for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
3. Kevlar: DuPont manufactures Kevlar, a patented synthetic fiber. It has a variety of applications including body armour, bulletproof vests, and tyres.
4. Teflon: Teflon is a nonstick coating material made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a patented polymer developed by DuPont.
5. Nylon: DuPont uses its patented synthetic polymer nylon in a variety of applications such as clothing, carpets, and parachutes.
6. Prozac: Fluoxetine hydrochloride is a patented chemical compound by Eli Lilly and Company and marketed as Prozac. Doctors prescribe it for the treatment of anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
7. Botox: Botulinum toxin type A is a patented chemical compound sold under the brand name Botox by Allergan. People use it to treat wrinkles, muscle spasms, and a variety of other medical and cosmetic uses.
8. Lipitor: Atorvastatin calcium is a patented chemical compound sold under the brand name Lipitor by Pfizer. It helps lower cholesterol and lower the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Chemical compounds are an important and significant area of patenting. Subsequently, this pattern is likely to continue as new chemical technologies and applications emerge. The first step in patenting a chemical compound or formula is to thoroughly review existing patents. Choose Novelty Checker for all of your patent research and analytics requirements!