WIPO：COVID-19相关疫苗和疗法专利态势报告_83页_1mb

Summary of the Patent Landscape Report on COVID-19-related Vaccines and Therapeutics

Core Content

This report presents an analysis of patenting activity related to COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics from the beginning of 2020 to the end of September 2021. It provides preliminary insights into the intellectual property (IP) landscape, comparing the data with clinical trial information for candidate vaccines and drugs.

Main Findings

• Overall Activity:
  There were 5,293 patent filings related to COVID-19 technologies, including 1,465 for therapeutics and 417 for vaccines.

• Comparison with Past Pandemics:
  The number of patent filings for influenza vaccines (1941–2011) was less than 500, and during the SARS outbreak, fewer than 1,000 patents were published.

• Patent Offices:
  The majority of patent applications were filed with China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), WIPO, and USPTO. India and the Republic of Korea were prominent in therapeutics filings.

• Applicant Distribution:
  Patent applicants were evenly distributed between companies (49% for vaccines, 44% for therapeutics) and universities/research organizations (44% for vaccines, 41% for therapeutics).

• Patent Strategy:
  Many applicants have focused on international protection through the PCT system, with PCT applications accounting for the second highest number of filings.

• Vaccine Platforms:
  Both conventional (e.g., protein subunit, inactivated virus) and novel (e.g., mRNA, viral vector) platforms were explored. Conventional vaccines dominated patent filings, but novel platforms are gaining momentum in clinical trials.

• Therapeutics Development:
  Most drug candidates (about 80%) are repurposed drugs. Small molecules and biologics are the main types of therapeutics, with small molecules accounting for 54% and biologics for 36% of the patent filings.

• Biologics:
  Antibodies make up nearly half (42%) of the biologics disclosed in patent documents. Neutralizing antibodies are a new class of antivirals that can block the virus from entering human cells.

• Collaboration:
  While collaboration in patent filings was modest (only 1 in 5 applications had multiple applicants), cooperation in drug development, clinical trials, and manufacturing was more pronounced. Partnerships include pharmaceutical companies, biotech startups, and universities.

• Timeline and Innovation:
  The accelerated development of vaccines and therapeutics during the pandemic was enabled by prior scientific research and patenting activity. CRISPR-Cas technology, nucleic-acid-based drugs, and engineered exosomes are among the innovative approaches disclosed in the patent dataset.

• Patent Disclosure and Clinical Trials:
  Partial and early disclosure of sequences was observed in some patent offices (e.g., Israel, U.K., Singapore), and accelerated patent publication and grant processes were noted.

Key Points

• Speed of Development:
  The fast development of vaccines and therapeutics was supported by global collaboration and prior scientific knowledge.

• Patent Landscape Trends:

  • Vaccine platforms: Protein subunit vaccines are the most common in patent filings, but mRNA and viral vector vaccines are increasing in clinical trials.
  • Therapeutics: Small molecule and biologics dominate, with antibodies being a significant component of biologics.
  • Repurposed drugs are a major focus in therapeutic development.

• Global Impact:
  The global nature of the pandemic has led to international patenting efforts, with a wide range of jurisdictions involved.

• Future Outlook:
  The report emphasizes that patent data is still incomplete due to the 18-month lag between filing and publication, and future updates will provide a more comprehensive view.

Conclusion

The patent landscape for COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics reflects a high level of innovation and global collaboration. While companies and research institutions are the primary contributors, the research community has played a crucial role in developing new technologies. The focus on novel platforms such as mRNA and viral vectors and repurposed drugs indicates a diverse and rapidly evolving IP landscape. As more patent data becomes available, the picture of innovation will likely become more complete.