世界知识产权组织-新冠肺炎相关疫苗和疗法-对大流行期间相关专利活动的初步了解（英）-2022.3-83页_1mb

报告摘要

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

Core Content

This report provides an analysis of the patenting activity related to COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics from the start of the pandemic in early 2020 to the end of September 2021. It offers preliminary insights into the global intellectual property (IP) landscape and compares it with clinical trial data to understand the innovation trends and strategies in the field.

Main Findings

1. High Volume of Patent Filings

A total of 5,293 patent filings were identified for technologies related to COVID-19, including 1,465 for therapeutics and 417 for vaccines.
The number of filings is significantly higher than those for influenza vaccines (under 500 from 1941 to 2011) and during the SARS outbreak (under 1,000 patents).
The patenting activity has been concentrated in three major patent offices: WIPO (PCT system), China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), and United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

2. Patent Applicants

Patent applicants are evenly distributed between companies (49% for vaccines, 44% for therapeutics) and universities/research organizations (44% for vaccines, 41% for therapeutics).
Universities and research institutions have played a key role in developing patented technologies, especially in novel vaccine platforms such as mRNA and viral vector-based vaccines.
Oxford University is a notable example of academic contribution, having developed the adenovirus vector vaccine in collaboration with AstraZeneca.

3. Geographic Distribution

China is the leading origin of patent filings for both vaccines and therapeutics.
The top applicant locations for vaccines are: China, U.S., Russia, U.K., and India.
For therapeutics, the top locations are: China, U.S., India, Republic of Korea, and Russia.

4. Filing Strategies

A majority of applicants have opted for international protection via the PCT system.
Domestic protection is also common, but PCT filings are the second highest in number for both vaccine and therapeutic patents.

5. Vaccine Platforms

Conventional platforms (protein subunit, inactivated, live attenuated, VLP) account for 46% of vaccine patents, while novel platforms (viral vector, mRNA) make up 35%.
Protein subunit vaccines are the most common in clinical trials, accounting for 34%, but mRNA vaccines are rapidly increasing, making up 20% of clinical trials and 12% of the patent dataset.

6. Therapeutics Development

63 unique drug candidates have entered Phase 3 or Phase 2/3 clinical trials as of September 2021.
Most drug candidates (estimated 80%) are repurposed from existing treatments for other diseases.
Small molecules and biologics are the main types of therapeutics, with 54% and 36% of patent filings respectively.
Traditional medicines account for 17% of filings in the therapeutics dataset.

7. Biologics and Antibodies

Antibodies make up 42% of biologics in the patent dataset.
Virus-neutralizing antibodies are a new class of antivirals, targeting the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 to block viral entry into human cells.
Other biologics include peptides, proteins, nucleic-acid-based therapies, aptamers, and cell-based therapies.

8. Innovative Technologies

CRISPR-Cas technology and nucleic-acid-based drugs (e.g., siRNA, shRNA, microRNA, antisense oligonucleotides, aptamers) are being explored for targeting viral genes and modulating host factors.
Engineered exosomes are being developed as novel delivery vehicles for targeted drug delivery in therapeutic applications.

9. Collaboration

Only 1 in 5 patent applications involved multiple applicants, suggesting limited patent collaboration.
However, cooperation is more prominent in drug development, clinical trials, and manufacturing.
Examples include Merck and Emory University in the development of molnupiravir, and licensing agreements for vaccine and therapeutic distribution.

Key Insights

The accelerated development of vaccines and therapeutics during the pandemic was made possible by prior scientific research and existing patenting activity.
Patent data is not yet complete due to the 18-month lag between filing and publication, so this report serves as a preliminary analysis.
Novel vaccine platforms (especially mRNA and viral vector) are gaining momentum in clinical studies, indicating a shift in innovation trends.
Biologics, particularly antibodies, are dominant in the therapeutics landscape, with repurposed drugs playing a significant role.

Conclusion

The patent landscape for COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics reflects a global and diverse innovation effort. While companies dominate patent filings, universities and research organizations are crucial in developing core technologies. The focus on novel platforms and repurposed drugs highlights the rapid pace of innovation in response to the pandemic, and the increased use of biologics and international filing strategies underscores the complexity and scale of the global effort to combat the virus.