The global patent landscape of emerging infectious disease monkeypox.

BACKGROUND: Monkeypox is an emerging infectious disease with confirmed cases and deaths in several parts of the world. In light of this crisis, this study aims to analyze the global knowledge pattern of monkeypox-related patents and explore current trends and future technical directions in the medical development of monkeypox to inform research and policy. METHODS: A comprehensive study of 1,791 monkeypox-related patents worldwide was conducted using the Derwent patent database by descriptive statistics, social network method and linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Since the 21st century, the number of monkeypox-related patents has increased rapidly, accompanied by increases in collaboration between commercial and academic patentees. Enterprises contributed the most in patent quantity, whereas the initial milestone patent was filed by academia. The core developments of technology related to the monkeypox include biological and chemical medicine. The innovations of vaccines and virus testing lack sufficient patent support in portfolios. CONCLUSIONS: Monkeypox-related therapeutic innovation is geographically limited with strong international intellectual property right barriers though it has increased rapidly in recent years. The transparent licensing of patent knowledge is driven by the merger and acquisition model, and the venture capital, intellectual property and contract research organization model. Currently, the patent thicket phenomenon in the monkeypox field may slow the progress of efforts to combat monkeypox. Enterprises should pay more attention to the sharing of technical knowledge, make full use of drug repurposing strategies, and promote innovation of monkeypox-related technology in hotspots of antivirals (such as tecovirimat, cidofovir, brincidofovir), vaccines (JYNNEOS, ACAM2000), herbal medicine and gene therapy.

Emerging Gene Therapy Approaches in the Management of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA): An Overview of Clinical Trials and Patent Landscape.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare autosomal recessive neuromuscular disease that is characterized by progressive muscle atrophy (degeneration), including skeletal muscles in charge of the ability to move. SMA is caused by defects in the SMN1 gene (Survival of Motor Neuron 1) which encodes a protein crucial for the survival and functionality of neuron cells called motor neurons. Decreased level of functioning SMN protein leads to progressive degeneration of alpha-motor neurons performing muscular motility. Over the past decade, many strategies directed for SMN-level-restoration emerged, such as gene replacement therapy (GRT), CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing, usage of antisense oligonucleotides and small-molecule modulators, and all have been showing their perspectives in SMA therapy. In this review, modern SMA therapy strategies are described, making it a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians and everyone interested in the progress of therapy of this serious disorder.

Critical food and nutrition science challenges for plant-based meat alternative products.

A reduced reliance on animal-based diets with a move towards a more plant-based diet has driven the market demand for new generation sustainable plant-based meat alternatives. This review covers science and business perspectives relating to the development of plant-based meat alternatives. A conceptual framework to help inform the innovation pathway is provided. The market opportunity, consumer perspectives, the science that underpins the development of plant-based meat alternatives and patent information relating to these products are discussed. Careful navigation through the public domain science literature and patent landscape is necessary for informing the choice of ingredients, formulations and processes for producing plant-based meat alternatives. Attention to design of ingredient systems for optimization of flavor, texture, binding, color and nutrition is necessary for development of plant-based meat alternatives with desirable consumer attributes. Recommendations for further research for developing superior formulations for consumer-acceptable plant-based meat alternative products for improving sustainability outcomes are suggested.

[Digital twins in surgery: achievements and limitations]. / Tsifrovye dvoiniki v khirurgii: dostizheniya i ogranicheniya.

OBJECTIVE: To review the possible options for digital twin technology in surgery, as well as to build a patent and publication landscape for identifying technological and academic leaders of the frontier. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Scientometric and patent analysis was performed. RESULTS: Possible options for digital twin technology in surgical practice were reviewed. Development of scientific and technological trend «digital twins in surgery¼ in the world was assessed (2002 - idea, concept, definition; 2007-2014 - large-scale studies in academic sector; 2014 - active participation of regulators in translation of pilot digital models of patient organs into practical healthcare; 2014-2017 - large-scale studies in business sector; 2018-2021 - development of a market of medical services based on digital twin technologies in surgery). According to scientometric and patent analysis of digital twins in surgery, there is no a single Russian-language article on to this issue in journals indexed in WOS at the end of 2021. Our country ranks the 23rd in the world regarding its share in the total number of patent applications for inventions. CONCLUSION: Over a 20-year period, large-scale scientific projects have been carried out in the world to develop digital twin algorithms for surgery. Regulators were involved in the process of broadcasting their results into practical health care. Network interaction of all authors and beneficiaries of technological frontier occurred (research centers, hospitals, companies, manufacturers of medical equipment and information services). Technological ecosystems developed (startups, gazelles, investment seed capital). Technological leaders and key players in new market niches have been identified. Development of this field is insufficient in the Russian Federation. There are no qualified customers and companies in the real sector of economy that could become the beneficiaries of the frontier.

Technology Trends of Catalysts in Hydrogenation Reactions: A Patent Landscape Analysis.

The purpose of this review is to present an overview of the patent landscape for catalysts used in hydrogenation reactions. Based on patent data extracted from PatBase®, we use predefined patent classifications as well as a keyword-based search for our analyses. The results indicate that the number of patent families that protect heterogeneous catalysts grows twice as fast as that for their homogeneous counterparts. Furthermore, the data show a shift towards abundant and non-toxic elements in heterogeneous catalysis, while the noble metals continue to dominate the patent landscape of homogeneous catalysis. A subsequent geographical analysis reveals that the high growth rates in heterogeneous catalysis, especially for nickel and iron, are driven by China. Conversely, patenting activities with regard to homogeneous catalysts mainly take place in the USA, the EU, and Japan. The subsequent keyword-based search illustrates the continuous industrial relevance of enantioselective hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation, as well as the rapidly increasing body of patents in hydrodeoxygenation. Setting these finding into context, we present and apply two concepts that are commonly used in patent analyses, namely the technology life cycle and the S-curve. We conclude that hydrogenation catalysis has not reached its peak economic relevance yet and will continue to spark valuable patents and innovations in the future.

Global research on artemisinin and its derivatives: Perspectives from patents.

BACKGROUND: The isolation of artemisinin in 1971 heralded the beginning of a new era in antimalarial drug therapy, and artemisinin-based combination therapies are currently the mainstay of malaria treatment worldwide. Artemisinin-related studies have been extensively and intensively executed in the last few decades. However, although many purely technological reviews have been completed in this field, studies on artemisinin from the perspective of patents are still very limited. In terms of the importance of patents for academic research and commercial development, this study aims to reveal the overall patent landscape of artemisinin in the temporal, spatial, and technological dimensions. This work may provide a useful reference for relevant decision-making by researchers, investors, and policymakers. METHODS: All available patent data relevant to artemisinin derivatives and artemisinin-based drug combinations developed for use in various therapeutic areas were collected from the Derwent Innovation database. Descriptive statistics and citation analyses were used to analyze the patent landscape. RESULTS: A total of 4594 patent documents and 1450 simple patent families from 1986 to 2019 were analyzed. A comprehensive patent landscape of artemisinin is presented from the aspects of time trends, filing countries, patent ownership, co-patents, technological categories, therapeutic areas, and citation networks and pathways. CONCLUSIONS: China and the United States are mainly responsible for the dramatic increase of artemisinin patents over the last three decades. From the point of view of patents, notable technological issues on artemisinin are chemical and biological synthesis, novel combinations, new formulations and administration routes, drug repositioning, and minimizing the resistance. Furthermore, a critical challenge lies in how to stimulate the industry to develop artemisinin-related drugs by government regulation and public-private partnership.

A patent review on strategies for biological control of mosquito vector.

Mosquitoes are the vectors responsible for transmitting serious and life-threatening diseases such as malaria, dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and lymphatic filariasis. Very few effective vaccines or drugs have been developed so far to prevent or treat these diseases, highlighting a need for vector control. This paper presents a comprehensive technology overview of patent documents disclosing biological agents for mosquito control. The patent analysis revealed that comparable number of patent documents were filed in two technology categories: non-recombinant agents and genetically modified (GM) agents. In the category of non-recombinant agents, toxic peptides from microbes and biological consortia seemed to be the earliest technology noted right from the year 1965 whereas the patent filings for suppression of mosquito population using genetic modification techniques have emerged from the year 2000 onwards. The United States of America is the leading patent filing jurisdiction followed by China and the Great Britain. Academic institutes have filed higher number of patent applications as compared to private companies. University of Florida was found to be the leading patent filing entity and its patents were focused on suppression of vector population using techniques such as release of insects with dominant lethal (RIDL) and RNA interference (RNAi).

Technological mapping and trends in photobioreactors for the production of microalgae.

Photobioreactors (PBRs) are equipment of central importance for the massive cultivation of microalgae, providing controlled conditions for high cell productivity. There are a few popular PBR designs, with contrasting advantages and limitations, such as poor light distribution, mass transfer, or hydrodynamic behavior. Due to the environmental concerns in recent decades and the discovery of new, useful microalgal metabolites, the interest in finding alternatives to solve technological bottlenecks of PBRs has intensified. In this process, new geometries, materials, and modes of light supply were developed, generating a significant scientific and technological output, reported in papers and patents. We present a technological landscape analysis of photobioreactor design, focusing on improvements of the classical geometries and trends in industrial photobioreactors. The analysis of 412 patent documents showed a surge in innovation filing since 2005 and a reduction in the number of new documents along the last decade. The recent efforts in design improvement, the leading countries, institutes and companies that innovate, and the trends in PBR technology are presented and discussed.

Global trends in research and commercialization of exogenous and endogenous RNAi technologies for crops.

It has only been about 20 years since the first Nobel Prize-winning work on RNA interference (RNAi) in Caenorhabditis elegans was published in the journal Nature. Fast forward to today, and the use of RNA molecules as gene-silencing elements in crops has helped scientists to unveil possible solutions to the global problems of agricultural losses due to pests, viruses, pathogens, and to other abiotic and biotic stresses. The recent proliferation of publications suggests that the technology has gained significant attention and received ample funding support. In this article, an attempt has been made to visualize recent trends in Research & Development (R&D) investment in this field by analyzing top cited scholarly articles, patent trends, and commercialization activity. The publication and citation analysis identified that the development of RNAi-based crops conferring resistance against viruses, fungi, and pests are at the forefront of RNAi research and that Chinese and US institutions are the leaders in this field. The patent landscape analysis for RNAi technology over all aspects related to RNAi-derived crops provides an overview of patenting activity from a geographical, organizational, and legal perspective. Such an exercise is pivotal to industry players and public institutions aiming at creating intellectual property that is commercially appealing. An upswing in commercial interests in this technology in recent years is reflected by a consistent number of patent filings in US, European, and Chinese patent offices, with multinational giant firms as the most prolific patent filers. The expanding RNAi commercialization landscape is supported by a series of strategic partnerships, licensing agreements, and acquisitions created between agribusinesses, public research institutions, and startup companies. From key observations, we would like to highlight that such investments have very positive impacts on the development of RNAi technology. Nonetheless, the success of this technology is dependent on several factors, such as financial requirements, the complexity, and timeframe of the entire development process, as well as stringent regulations imposed by the relevant authorities. In most countries, RNAi-based transgenic crops are still considered as a genetically modified (GM) product, which necessitates the crops to undergo rigorous evaluation before approval is granted. Recent advancements in exogenous RNAi-derived biopesticides have provided a nontransgenic alternative to GM crops. However, challenges still remain in the form of technical hurdles and regulatory ambiguities surrounding this emerging technology. Its full potential remains to be realized.

Ten years of iPSC: clinical potential and advances in vitro hematopoietic differentiation.

Ten years have passed since the first publication announcing the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Issues related to ethics, immune rejection, and cell availability seemed to be solved following this breakthrough. The development of iPSC technology allows advances in in vitro cell differentiation for cell therapy purpose and other clinical applications. This review provides a perspective on the iPSC potential for cell therapies, particularly for hematological applications. We discuss the advances in in vitro hematopoietic differentiation, the possibilities to employ iPSC in hematology studies, and their potential clinical application in hematologic diseases. The generation of red blood cells and functional T cells and the genome editing technology applied to mutation correction are also covered. We highlight some of the requirements and obstacles to be overcome before translating these cells from research to the clinic, for instance, iPSC variability, genotoxicity, the differentiation process, and engraftment. Also, we evaluate the patent landscape and compile the clinical trials in the field of pluripotent stem cells. Currently, we know much more about iPSC than in 2006, but there are still challenges that must be solved. A greater understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying the generation of hematopoietic stem cells is necessary to produce suitable and transplantable hematopoietic stem progenitor cells from iPSC.

A patent landscape on application of microorganisms in construction industry.

Construction biotechnology includes research and development of construction materials and processes that make use of various microbes. The present technology landscape gives a perspective on how microbes have been used in construction industry as cement and concrete additives by analyzing patents filed in this technology arena. All patents related to the technology of interest published globally to date have been reviewed. The earliest patent filing in this technology domain was recorded in the year 1958 and the patenting activity reached its peak around mid to late 1990s. The early technology was mainly focused on microbial polysaccharides and other metabolic products as additives. Year 2002 onwards, biomineralization has taken precedence over the other technologies with consistent patent filings indicating a shift in innovation focus. Japan has been the global leader with highest number of patents filed on application of microbes in construction industry. Southeast University, China has topped the patent assignee list with maximum number of filings followed by Kajima Corp. and Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. Most patent applications have claimed microbe based bio-products. Construction-related microbial technologies are mainly based on activity of different microorganisms such as urease-producing, acidogenic, halophilic, alkaliphilic, nitrate and iron-reducing bacteria. Sporosarcina pasteurii has been the most widely used microbe for biomineralization.

Genome editing: intellectual property and product development in plant biotechnology.

Genome editing is a revolutionary technology in molecular biology. While scientists are fascinated with the unlimited possibilities provided by directed and controlled changes in DNA in eukaryotes and have eagerly adopted such tools for their own experiments, an understanding of the intellectual property (IP) implications involved in bringing genome editing-derived products to market is often lacking. Due to the ingenuity of genome editing, the time between new product conception and its actual existence can be relatively short; therefore knowledge about IP of the various genome editing methods is relevant. This point must be regarded in a national framework as patents are instituted nationally. Therefore, when designing scientific work that could lead to a product, it is worthwhile to consider the different methods used for genome editing not only for their scientific merits but also for their compatibility with a speedy and reliable launch into the desired market.

Functional metamaterials for wireless antenna applications - A review abetted with patent landscape analysis.

The communication network made the globe a single entity and easily acessible by everyone at any time. Growth in communication networks is unimaginable and advanced nowadays. It is growing every day by means of medium or components used in communication. There are various significant components that are generally used in the communication networks. Specifically, wireless communication (WC) is the dominant in today's communication world. It is supported by the transmitting and receiving nodes at each end of communication. The common components in communication antennas are the transmitters and receivers. It has been unalterable for many decades but their capabilities have been improved through various methods including their manufacturing by the use of alternative materials. This article focuses on metamaterial (MM) based wireless antennas. The growth of metamaterials utilization in the fabrication of microstrip antennas has been discussed comprehensively and its future scope has been envisaged through patent landscape analysis. It is done meticulously using the patent database and in addition, the growth of some of the metamaterials was also predicted using the landscape analysis. Some significant technologies related with metamaterials in WC that were patented have been discussed comprehensively along with the reference to recently published articles. This articles serves as a guide to the researchers working in the communication field to envisage the future advancements.

The Patent Landscape of mTOR and PTEN Targets.

BACKGROUND: PTEN and mTOR signaling have many roles, including antiinflammatory, immunosuppressant and cancer. OBJECTIVE: US patents were retrieved to show the current landscape of the mTOR and PTEN targets. METHODS: PTEN and mTOR targets were analyzed by patent analysis. The U.S. granted patents from January 2003 to July 2022 were performed and analyzed. RESULTS: The results showed that the mTOR target was more attractive in drug discovery than the PTEN target. Our findings indicated that most large global pharmaceutical companies focused the drug discovery related to the mTOR target. The present study demonstrated that mTOR and PTEN targets showed more applications in biological approaches compared to BRAF and KRAS targets. The chemical structures of the inhibitors of the mTOR target demonstrated some similar features to those of the inhibitors of KRAS targets. CONCLUSION: At this stage, the PTEN target may not be an ideal target subjected to new drug discovery. The present study was the first one which demonstrated that the group of O=S=O may play a critical role in the chemical structures of mTOR inhibitors. It was the first time to show that a PTEN target may be suitably subjected to new therapeutic discovery efforts related to biological applications. Our findings provide a recent insight into therapeutic development for mTOR and PTEN targets.

3D printing chronicles in medical devices and pharmaceuticals: tracing the evolution and historical milestones.

The objective of this study is to collect the significant advancements of 3D printed medical devices in the biomedical area in recent years. Especially related to a range of diseases and the polymers employed in drug administration. To address the existing limitations and constraints associated with the method used for producing 3D printed medical devices, in order to optimize their suitability for degradation. The compilation and use of research papers, reports, and patents that are relevant to the key keywords are employed to improve comprehension. According to this thorough investigation, it can be inferred that the 3D Printing method, specifically Fuse Deposition Modeling (FDM), is the most suitable and convenient approach for preparing medical devices. This study provides an analysis and summary of the development trend of 3D printed implantable medical devices, focusing on the production process, materials specially the polymers, and typical items associated with 3D printing technology. This study offers a comprehensive examination of nanocarrier research and its corresponding discoveries. The FDM method, which is already facing significant challenges in terms of achieving optimal performance and cost reduction, will experience remarkable advantages from this highly valuable technology. The objective of this analysis is to showcase the efficacy and limitations of 3D-printing applications in medical devices through thorough research, highlighting the significant technological advancements it offers. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the most recent research and discoveries on 3D-printed medical devices, offering significant insights into their study.

Trends in covalent drug discovery: a 2020-23 patent landscape analysis focused on select covalent reacting groups (CRGs) found in fda-approved drugs.

INTRODUCTION: Covalent drugs contain electrophilic groups that can react with nucleophilic amino acids located in the active sites of proteins, particularly enzymes. Recently, there has been considerable interest in using covalent drugs to target non-catalytic amino acids in proteins to modulate difficult targets (i.e. targeted covalent inhibitors). Covalent compounds contain a wide variety of covalent reacting groups (CRGs), but only a few of these CRGs are present in FDA-approved covalent drugs. AREAS COVERED: This review summarizes a 2020-23 patent landscape analysis that examined trends in the field of covalent drug discovery around targets and organizations. The analysis focused on patent applications that were submitted to the World International Patent Organization and selected using a combination of keywords and structural searches based on CRGs present in FDA-approved drugs. EXPERT OPINION: A total of 707 patent applications from > 300 organizations were identified, disclosing compounds that acted at 71 targets. Patent application counts for five targets accounted for ~ 63% of total counts (i.e. BTK, EGFR, FGFR, KRAS, and SARS-CoV-2 Mpro). The organization with the largest number of patent counts was an academic institution (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute). For one target, KRAS G12C, the discovery of new drugs was highly competitive (>100 organizations, 186 patent applications).

Patent landscape of platelet growth factor receptor and c-KIT targets.

Type III receptor tyrosine kinase, e.g., PDGFR, are associated with various autoimmune diseases. To show the status of PDGFR and c-KIT targets, we performed the US patent analysis. The present study showed that the R&D of c-KIT target was much earlier than the R&D of PDGFR targets. Currently, the PDGFR-based target demonstrates more applications in the development of biological therapy. Our findings indicated that some inhibitors of c-KIT target contained sulfur elements or 1,3-diazine rings. The c-KIT target has more competitive edges for chemical drug discovery than the PDGFR target. c-KIT and PDGFR targets are currently preferable for drug discovery in autoimmune diseases. This study was the first to show R&D differentiation between PDGFR and c-KIT targets in drug development.

Current landscape and future prospects of RET and ROS1 targets.

RET and ROS1 are becoming key targets for targeted therapy. To show current landscape of ROS1 and RET targets, a patent analysis was performed. The present results indicated that inhibitor structures of ROS1 target demonstrated unique elements compared with inhibitor structures of RET or BRAF targets. Our study was the first time to uncover that a number of inhibitor structures of ROS1 target contained sulfur and boron elements. The inhibitors of RET target could be developed for treatment of various cancers, including lung cancer, thyroid cancer, and other solid tumor, while the inhibitors of ROS1 target are virtually developed for treatment of lung cancer. Our findings provide a new insight for drug discovery of ROS1 and RET target.

Antibacterial and Antimalarial Therapeutic Agents: A Patent Perspective.

BACKGROUND: Antibacterial and antimalarial drugs play a critical role in combating infectious diseases. It is a continuous work to develop new types of antibacterial and antimalarial drugs. OBJECTIVES: To better understand current landscape and association of antibacterial and antimalarial agents, the European patent analysis was performed. METHODS: Antibacterial and antimalarial agents were analyzed by patent analysis. Patent documents from January 2003 to May 2022 were retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS: The present study indicated there were virtually three therapeutic approaches for antibacterial agents, including chemical drugs, biological products and siRNA technology. Chemical drugs were a mainstream therapeutic approach for development of both antibacterial and antimalarial agents. However, the present study found that in contrast to antimalarials, siRNA technology had been initially explored as therapeutic strategy for antibacterial agents. Also, our study is the first to show that there is a low correlation between antibacterial and antimalarial agents. CONCLUSION: Globally, our study is the first one to show that it may be not a fast approach to discover antimalarial drugs from antibacterial agents based on drug repurposing. siRNA technology as therapeutic strategy had been explored and used in antibacterial field.

A 20-year patent review and innovation trends on hydrogel-based coatings used for medical device biofabrication.

This patent review encapsulates information that could be used as a reference by researchers in the fields of coatings and interfaces, biofabrication, tissue engineering, biomaterials, and biomedical engineering, as well as those especially interested in the formulation of hydrogel coatings. The state has been reviewed by introducing what has been innovated, invented, and patented in relation to hydrogel coatings. A detailed analysis of the patentability of hydrogel applications, such as the coating of medical devices to enhance their clinical performance, has been provided. During a search, 2937 patent documents were found. 2012 was the year with the most patent documents (177). Based on the patent classification, all patent documents and most inventions are intended for biomaterials for coating prostheses characterized by their function or physical properties, such as macromolecular materials, hydrogels, and biologically active materials. Additionally, research based on medicinal formulations with unique physical forms is concentrated in the majority of patents, according to knowledge clusters and expert driving factors. Finally, to demonstrate the innovation trends in hydrogel-based coatings, a selection of relevant patent applications and granted patents is proposed at the end of this paper, along with some examples of commercial products based on the patented technologies.