A strategic analysis of patents covering receptors and their use as research tools filed since 1993 by three major companies

Abstract

A wide range of different receptors have been patented by Takeda, Merck and Human Genome Sciences - each the assignee of ca. 30 patent families relating to receptors and published in and after 1993. Many of the patented receptors are G-protein-coupled receptors. The strategies followed by these three major companies when patenting receptors are discussed. Their strategies differ considerably and range from the extensive use of functional reach-through claims by Human Genome Sciences to Takeda’s strategy of frequently filing only in Japan, possibly using the Japanese patent application as a prophylactic publication. When receptors are patented in only one country by these three and other companies, the USA or Japan is chosen most frequently whereas European countries are almost never chosen.

• G-protein-coupled receptors
• patent strategy
• reach-through
• receptors
• research tools