An update on anti-allergic patents granted in China: 2009 - 2011.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of allergic diseases has increased dramatically in recent decades. Therefore, there is a pressing need for the development of effective anti-allergic services worldwide.


METHODS
In previous studies, the authors had analyzed a total of 789 anti-allergic patents granted in China from 1988 to 2008. Herein, they report a further 151 anti-allergic patents issued in China during 2009 - 2011. The current analysis covers the scientific progress in supporting anti-allergic patent applications and granted patent literature, in China, for the last 3 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The 151 anti-allergic patents granted from 2009 to 2011 mainly focus on seven types of products. They are: traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), plant extracts, biological products, synthetic compounds, pharmaceutical preparations, medical apparatus and new treatment modalities. Although the overall number of anti-allergic patent applications made between 2009 and 2011 in China is less than that of the USA and Europe, patents on TCM have increased. This suggests that there are demands for modernization of TCMs. Recently, studies of interesting new immunomodulators have also been conducted, and some of these are likely to represent clinically useful advances. In the last 3 years, several patents on these novel potential drugs have also been granted in China. The large number of anti-allergic patents issued in China, in recent times, suggests that the Chinese market is relatively competitive one that will help pharmaceutical companies make proper decisions for their research and development strategies.
The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Clinical Research Center, Nanjing, China.
Shu
S
Zhang
Xiaoning
X
Zeng
Shaoheng
S
He
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002681:China; D015195:Drug Design; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods; D010330:Patents as Topic
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors