Patent Landscape of Chinese Classical Prescriptions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62767/jecacm602.8654Keywords:
Traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese classical prescriptions, intellectual property, invention patent, technology transferAbstract
Background: To date, 317 Chinese classical prescriptions (CCPs) have been officially released in China. While patents are pivotal indicators of technological innovation and translational potential, their application in CCP research remains relatively limited, with developmental momentum progressing slowly. Methods: We retrieved CCP-related patent publication numbers from the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and extracted detailed patent records-filed prior to March 1, 2025 from the Derwent Innovation database. The data included inventor names, patent titles, and abstracts. Following deduplication, we standardized application formats and classified patents by inventor type and technological domain. Subsequent analyses combined statistical and thematic approaches. Results: A total of 1,340 valid patents were included in the final analysis. Two major policy interventions in 2011 and 2019 triggered substantial increases in CCP patent filings; however, these surges were short-lived, with marked declines observed in the years immediately following (2012 and 2020, respectively). Among granted patents, those pertaining to Preparation Methods comprised the largest share (33.33%), followed by Improved Prescriptions (15.83%). Patents addressing the fundamental attributes or underlying mechanisms of CCPs were notably scarce. Conclusion: The rising number of CCP patent applications and increasing involvement of corporate entities reflect growing recognition of CCPs' commercial value. However, the observed dependency on policy-driven momentum highlights the need for consistent, structured regulatory support. The limited presence of high-quality patents may hinder sustained innovation and should be a focal point for future research and policy development, particularly those elucidating mechanistic foundations.
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