title: Analysis of anti-asthmatic drug patents published in China between 2004 and 2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We previously reported that 789 anti-allergic patents were granted in China between 1988 and 2008, but the number of patents seems to have grown much faster in China in recent years. Therefore, it is necessary to analyse the patents for anti-asthmatic products between 2004 and 2013 to give pharmaceutical companies and individuals a better understanding of potential candidates for anti-asthmatic drug development from patents published in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current report analyses the scientific progress that supports anti-asthmatic drug patent applications and reviews the published patent literature in China from 2004 to 2013.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rapid increase in the number of anti-asthmatic patents in China indicates that more specific discoveries have been made and that more people are aware of the importance of intellectual property protection in China. Holding patents may guarantee protection for an innovative new product.
authors.affiliation: a Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Centre , The First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University , Jinzhou , China.|b Department of Respiratory Medicine , The General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region , Shenyang , China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: a Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Centre , The First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University , Jinzhou , China.
authors.forename: Huiyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: a Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Centre , The First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University , Jinzhou , China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: c Corporation Law Department , Dechert LLP , London , UK.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: a Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Centre , The First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University , Jinzhou , China.
authors.forename: Hongliang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: a Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Centre , The First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University , Jinzhou , China.
authors.forename: Shaoheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002681:China; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D018973:Intellectual Property; D010330:Patents as Topic
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents
keywords: Chinese patent; anti-asthmatic drug; beta2-adrenoceptor agonist; synthetic compound; traditional Chinese medicine