How to Manufacture a Complex Cancer-Fighting Drug Molecule
A detailed chemical recipe for mass-producing a specific cancer-fighting molecule, including the intermediate building blocks needed to construct it efficiently.
Original patent title: “Pharmaceutical process for the preparation of 4-{4-[(3R)-3-methylmorpholin-4-yl]-6-[1-((R)-S-methylsulfonimidoyl) cyclopropyl]pyrimidin-2-yl}-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b] pyridine and intermediates”
A detailed chemical recipe for mass-producing a specific cancer-fighting molecule, including the intermediate building blocks needed to construct it efficiently. Granted to AstraZeneca AB in 2025 with 26 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a multi-step chemical manufacturing process for a specific pharmaceutical compound known as Formula (I), which is used to treat cancer. It outlines how to build the molecule by creating smaller 'intermediate' chemical structures, such as those labeled Formula (II) through (XIII), and then linking them together. The process uses specific chemical reactions, including palladium-catalyzed coupling and the use of oxidative enzymes, to assemble the final drug structure. By defining these specific pathways, the patent allows for the large-scale production of the drug with higher efficiency than previous laboratory-scale methods.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover the final drug molecule itself, as that was previously disclosed in earlier patents.
- Does not cover general chemical reactions not specifically applied to the synthesis of these identified intermediates.
- Does not cover alternative synthetic routes that do not utilize the specific intermediates or reaction steps claimed in the patent.
- Does not cover the medical use or clinical application of the drug.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The process incorporates the use of oxidative enzymes and specific photo-catalytic steps to build the molecule, which are often more precise and environmentally friendly than traditional harsh chemical reagents.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing of oncology drug candidates
Chemical synthesis of complex pyrimidine-based inhibitors
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Manufacturing complex drugs at scale is a significant hurdle in the pharmaceutical industry. This patent provides a proprietary 'recipe' that helps AstraZeneca produce a specific oncology treatment more reliably and economically. It ensures the company has legal protection over the specific industrial methods used to synthesize the drug, which is essential for maintaining supply chains and protecting investment in drug development.
Filed
December 17, 2019
Granted
July 22, 2025
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
AstraZeneca is the primary entity developing and utilizing this specific manufacturing process. Other large pharmaceutical companies working on similar kinase inhibitors for oncology often develop their own proprietary, patented manufacturing routes for their specific drug candidates.
Market impact
This patent secures the manufacturing efficiency for a specific cancer therapeutic, helping to stabilize the production costs and supply chain for the drug. It serves as a defensive barrier, preventing competitors from using the same optimized chemical route to produce the same active pharmaceutical ingredient.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a multi-step chemical manufacturing process for a specific pharmaceutical compound known as Formula (I), which is used to treat cancer. It outlines how to build the molecule by creating smaller 'intermediate' chemical structures, such as those labeled Formula (II) through (XIII), and then linking them together. The process uses specific chemical reactions, including palladium-catalyzed coupling and the use of oxidative enzymes, to assemble the final drug structure. By defining these specific pathways, the patent allows for the large-scale production of the drug with higher efficiency than previous laboratory-scale methods.
The clever bit
The process incorporates the use of oxidative enzymes and specific photo-catalytic steps to build the molecule, which are often more precise and environmentally friendly than traditional harsh chemical reagents.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover the final drug molecule itself, as that was previously disclosed in earlier patents.
- Does not cover general chemical reactions not specifically applied to the synthesis of these identified intermediates.
- Does not cover alternative synthetic routes that do not utilize the specific intermediates or reaction steps claimed in the patent.
- Does not cover the medical use or clinical application of the drug.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
17/20
Very broad protection
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$21K – $67K
Midpoint $42K · 13.5 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
26 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Inglesby, P. A., Jackson, L. V., Dave, D. P., Graham, M. A., Cooper, K. G., & Noonan, G. M. (2025). How to Manufacture a Complex Cancer-Fighting Drug Molecule (U.S. Patent No. 12,365,678). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12365678/raptor-production
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Manufacture a Complex Cancer-Fighting Drug Molecule cover?
A detailed chemical recipe for mass-producing a specific cancer-fighting molecule, including the intermediate building blocks needed to construct it efficiently.
Who owns patent US 12365678?
AstraZeneca AB owns this patent, granted in 2025.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on July 22, 2045, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Manufacturing complex drugs at scale is a significant hurdle in the pharmaceutical industry. This patent provides a proprietary 'recipe' that helps AstraZeneca produce a specific oncology treatment more reliably and economically. It ensures the company has legal protection over the specific industrial methods used to synthesize the drug, which is essential for maintaining supply chains and protecting investment in drug development.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover the final drug molecule itself, as that was previously disclosed in earlier patents.
Patent monitoring