Company patents
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. appears to be significantly re-evaluating its patent strategy, with a notable shift away from medical devices and diagnostics. While Pharmaceutical Preparations still dominate with 60.8% of its portfolio, patenting in this core area has seen a consistent decline, including a -21.6% YoY drop in 2025 and a -65.5% drop so far in 2026, suggesting a potential strategic pivot or a focus on quality over quantity. Surprisingly, categories like Medical Diagnostics & Surgery, Healthcare Informatics, and Pharmacy Containers / Devices have seen dramatic declines, with zero patents filed so far in 2026 for these areas, indicating a clear de-prioritization of these segments.
Patent Trend by Technology Area
Yearly patent publications since 2023
Product themes
Product-level themes inferred from filings since 2023, with category chips showing where each theme appears. Select a theme to filter the patents below.
189 US filings (since 2023) · 12 categories · 28 themes
Design and synthesis of acyclic or carbocyclic organic compounds that selectively modulate specific biological targets or pathways for the treatment of diseases.
Delivery systems specifically engineered to administer advanced drug formulations (e.g., microparticles, biologics, extended-release systems) to achieve precise targeting, controlled release kinetics, or enhanced therapeutic efficacy within the body.
Methods and compositions for identifying, quantifying, or characterizing specific biological molecules (e.g., nucleic acids, proteins, metabolites, antibodies) or microbial species, often for diagnostic, prognostic, or quality control applications.
Devices that assist in the physical modification or mixing of medications prior to administration, such as crushing solid drugs, cutting pills, reconstituting lyophilized products, or extracting from other devices.
Development of small molecules, often bifunctional (e.g., PROTACs) or molecular glues, that induce the ubiquitin-proteasome system or autophagy to selectively degrade specific disease-causing proteins.
Techniques for preparing and characterizing specific solid forms, such as crystal forms, salts, co-crystals, or amorphous forms, of active pharmaceutical ingredients to optimize properties like stability, solubility, and bioavailability.
Systems that integrate digital technology, sensors, or connectivity to monitor, track, or automate aspects of medication administration, often providing data feedback, personalized recommendations, or secure logging.
Processes and methodologies for the efficient and scalable preparation of complex heterocyclic compounds and their precursors, including specific reaction conditions, purification techniques, and intermediate compounds.
Methods and intermediates for preparing complex organic molecules intended as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), often involving multi-step synthesis and optimization of reaction pathways.
Development of food compositions, beverages, or powders designed to provide specific health benefits beyond basic nutrition, such as weight management, anti-aging, exercise support, or targeted disease prevention/treatment, often incorporating bioactive compounds or probiotics.
Identification and measurement of specific nucleic acid sequences (DNA, RNA), their expression levels, or epigenetic modifications (e.g., methylation) as indicators for disease presence, progression, risk, or treatment response.
Development of devices and methods for non-invasive or minimally invasive collection and analysis of physiological data, often from wearable sensors, to monitor health, activity, or specific conditions.
Development of therapeutic approaches involving the genetic modification of cells (e.g., T cells, stem cells, macrophages) or the use of viral/non-viral vectors to deliver genetic material for disease treatment.
Methods and compositions for developing new protein sources (e.g., microbial, plant-based blends) or utilizing controlled fermentation processes to create novel food products, improve nutritional profiles, or enhance specific characteristics like texture or flavor.
Digital platforms and systems that deliver tailored therapeutic interventions, guidance, or recommendations to patients based on their individual health data, biometric feedback, and computational models (e.g., AI/ML, physiological simulations).
Therapeutic interventions that target immune checkpoint pathways to either enhance or suppress immune responses, often used in cancer immunotherapy or autoimmune diseases.
Systems and methods for non-invasive or minimally invasive collection and analysis of physiological data (e.g., blood pressure, electrolytes, genetic markers, B cell repertoire) to assess patient health status, screen for conditions, or aid in diagnosis.
Design and application of devices that are inserted into the body or implanted to treat diseases, modulate physiological functions, or repair anatomical structures.
Design and modification of antibodies or antibody-derived fragments for targeted therapeutic intervention, including bispecific formats, Fc region modifications, and activatable constructs.
Development and use of engineered biological systems, such as organ-on-a-chip devices, dynamic hydrogels, or genetically modified cells, to mimic physiological conditions, study disease mechanisms, screen compounds, or develop cell-based therapies.
Utilizing machine learning, particularly deep learning, to analyze medical data such as images, sensor readings, or physiological signals for disease prediction, diagnosis, or treatment assessment.
Chemical methods for incorporating specific isotopes, such as deuterium or radioisotopes like 18F, into organic molecules for applications in therapeutics, diagnostics, or material science.
Techniques and equipment for transforming raw food materials into finished products, focusing on efficiency, quality, texture modification, or specific physical alterations like extrusion, drying, or selective material removal.
Innovations in formulating food products by manipulating specific ingredients, emulsifiers, flavor compounds, or processing aids to achieve desired sensory properties (taste, aroma, texture) or enhance shelf stability.
Therapeutic strategies employing nucleic acids (DNA, RNA, oligonucleotides) to modulate gene expression, deliver genetic material, or interfere with disease-causing pathways. Includes gene therapy using viral vectors.
Therapeutic approaches involving the use of living cells, often genetically modified or ex vivo activated, to treat diseases, particularly cancer, by modulating immune responses or replacing damaged cells.
Mechanical or electromechanical systems designed for precise, often self-administered, delivery of medicaments, including features for dose setting, needle insertion/retraction, and safety mechanisms to prevent premature activation.
Assays leveraging CRISPR-Cas systems (e.g., Cas12, Cas13) for highly specific and sensitive detection of target nucleic acids, often involving collateral cleavage activity or reporter molecules.
Patents
Showing 1-10 of 21
API Solid Form Engineering