The global patent landscape of the drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease from 2014-2023.

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder lacking a definitive cure, spurring global efforts to develop effective therapeutic agents. Patent data can provide critical insights into research investments, innovation trends, and market dynamics.

Objective: This study offers a comprehensive ten-year overview (2014-2023) of granted AD drug patents, focusing on patent families (A 'patent family' refers to a set of patents or patent applications in different jurisdictions claiming priority to the same original invention. In contrast, a 'patent' typically denotes a single jurisdiction-specific grant. When we aggregate data by families, we seek to avoid double-counting the same invention filed in multiple regions and to measure an invention's overall global protection strategy.) to consolidate international filings for the same invention. By highlighting top assignees, citation impact, and molecular targets, we aim to clarify current R&D directions and identify emerging opportunities in AD drug development.

Methods: We extracted 2,088 AD drug patent families from the IncoPat database using International Patent Classification (IPC) codes (A61K, A61P) and keyword searches ("Alzheimer" or "Alzheimer's disease"). We excluded irrelevant items (e.g., test reagents) and concentrated on legally granted patents to ensure reliable and enforceable innovations. Geographic layouts, applicant rankings, and citation analyses were conducted to reveal innovation hotspots and high-impact patents.

Result: Annual granted patent volumes remained stable until a slight decline after 2021. While large pharmaceutical companies (e.g., Hoffmann-La Roche) dominated in terms of total patent families, several highly cited patents originated from smaller or less prolific applicants, reflecting unique or foundational breakthroughs. The United States led in patent counts, yet notable growth was seen in China and other emerging markets. Small-molecule compounds (including isoindoline derivatives) and monoclonal antibodies were predominant targets, though gene therapy and neuroinflammation-focused patents also gained traction.

Conclusions: Our findings highlight how AD patent landscapes integrate multiple scientific pathways and commercial strategies. The discrepancy between top patentees and top-cited inventions underscores the multifaceted nature of innovation in AD therapeutics. These insights, combined with broader scientific context, may guide policy decisions, R&D collaborations, and future research priorities in tackling this urgent healthcare challenge.