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Global prior art search for a complex vaccine patent

Supporting a chemical and life sciences company's evaluation of a competitor's patent and broader IP strategy.
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The Challenge

A precise formulation, a narrow band of prior art

A leading South Korean chemical and life sciences company enlisted our team to evaluate the validity of a competitor’s patent, covering a highly specific vaccine formulation with multiple interacting components, to support its broader patent strategy.

This patent relates to a multivalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine designed to provide broader protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae infections by targeting additional clinically significant serotypes beyond earlier vaccines. It covers vaccine compositions and methods of inducing an immune response to help prevent invasive pneumococcal disease, particularly in infants and young children.

The novelty lies primarily in the selection and combination of 13 pneumococcal serotypes conjugated to the CRM197 carrier protein, with dependent claims narrowing the composition by specifying adjuvants and an immunological response.

While vaccine literature is extensive, few references disclosed this precise combination of features, making the search technically demanding and highly selective.

The Solution

A worldwide search across patent and scientific literature

We developed a worldwide search strategy spanning patent and non-patent literature, including international patent publications, scientific journals, clinical research, and technical publications, analyzing each reference against the key claim limitations.

Our approach included:

International patent literature reviewed

Searched patent publications from jurisdictions worldwide for disclosures predating the patent’s priority date.

Scientific and clinical literature searched

Reviewed scientific journals, clinical research, and technical publications relevant to the claimed formulation.

Claim-by-claim reference analysis

Analyzed each reference against the patent’s key claim limitations to identify the strongest available prior art.

Our impact

A clear picture of the closest prior art

The search uncovered numerous highly relevant patent and scientific references from around the world, including publications addressing key aspects of the claimed vaccine technology, giving the client’s IP team a comprehensive assessment of the patent’s strength.

Closest worldwide prior art identified

Uncovered patent and scientific references addressing key aspects of the claimed vaccine technology.

Comprehensive invalidity analysis delivered

Provided a clear assessment of the competitor patent’s strength for the client’s IP team.

Informed next steps on patent strategy

Equipped the client to determine potential next steps in its broader patent strategy.

Navigating a pharmaceutical patent infringement case?

Subtle differences in formulation can decide a pharmaceutical patent’s validity. We dig through decades of literature to find what matters. This engagement demonstrates Parola Analytics’ ability to perform rigorous, worldwide prior art research for sophisticated life sciences technologies, helping leading chemical and pharmaceutical companies make informed decisions.

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The challenge

A life sciences company needed to assess a competitor’s patent covering a specific, multi-component vaccine formulation.

Why it worked

Worldwide scientific and patent literature search

Reviewing international patents alongside scientific and clinical literature identified the closest available prior art.

The outcome

  • Closest worldwide prior art identified
  • Comprehensive validity assessment delivered
  • Informed next steps on patent strategy
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