How to Find Antibodies That Only Detect Bound Drug Targets
This patent describes a method to create and use special antibodies that only detect when a therapeutic or diagnostic antibody is bound to its target, ignoring both the target and the unbound antibody.
Original patent title: “Complex-specific antibodies and antibody fragments and its use”
This patent describes a method to create and use special antibodies that only detect when a therapeutic or diagnostic antibody is bound to its target, ignoring both the target and the unbound antibody. Granted to Morphosys in 2026 with 7 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2043.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This invention provides a method for creating and using unique antibodies, called "complex-specific antibodies." These special antibodies are designed to only attach to a "complex" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1) – which is formed when a "cognate antibody" (the original antibody being studied) is already bound to its "antigen" (its target molecule). The method involves screening a library of potential antibodies (Claim 1a) and then isolating specific ones that bind only to this complex, explicitly not binding to the cognate antibody alone or the antigen alone (Claim 1c). Once identified, these complex-specific antibodies can be used to contact a sample (Claim 1d) and detect how much of the original cognate antibody is actually bound to its target, for example, to monitor a therapeutic antibody drug's activity in a patient's body.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover antibodies that bind to the cognate antibody when it is not attached to its antigen.
- Does not cover antibodies that bind to the antigen when it is not attached to the cognate antibody.
- Does not cover detection methods where the identifying antibody binds to both the complex and the individual cognate antibody or antigen.
- Does not cover methods for detecting the complex that do not involve first screening a library of antibodies as described in ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1a.
- Does not cover detection methods that do not use an isolated monoclonal antibody or functional fragment thereof.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in creating an antibody that *only* recognizes the specific shape formed when an original antibody is already bound to its target, ignoring the individual components. This "complex-specific" binding allows for direct and precise measurement of active drug engagement, which was previously challenging.
The Patent Drawing
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
Monitoring therapeutic antibody drug levels bound to their targets in patients during clinical trials.
Developing diagnostic tests to confirm active drug-target engagement in a patient's bloodstream.
Research tools to study how specific antibody-antigen interactions occur within living systems.
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology could significantly improve the development and monitoring of antibody-based drugs. By precisely measuring how much of a therapeutic antibody is actually bound to its target in a patient (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 4), doctors and researchers can better understand drug effectiveness and adjust dosages. This could lead to more personalized and effective treatments, especially in areas like cancer therapy or autoimmune diseases, by providing clear data on drug-target engagement.
Filed
March 30, 2023
Granted
March 31, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Morphosys GmbH, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic antibodies. Other pharmaceutical and biotech companies developing antibody drugs are actively seeking improved methods for drug development and monitoring, making this technology relevant to their ongoing research and clinical programs.
Market impact
This invention has the potential to refine the development and monitoring of antibody-based therapeutics. By offering a precise way to measure drug-target engagement, it could streamline clinical trials, enable more effective dosing strategies, and potentially reduce adverse effects. It provides a valuable tool for better understanding drug mechanisms in patients, which is crucial for the growing market of biologic drugs and personalized medicine.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This invention provides a method for creating and using unique antibodies, called "complex-specific antibodies." These special antibodies are designed to only attach to a "complex" (Claim 1) – which is formed when a "cognate antibody" (the original antibody being studied) is already bound to its "antigen" (its target molecule). The method involves screening a library of potential antibodies (Claim 1a) and then isolating specific ones that bind only to this complex, explicitly not binding to the cognate antibody alone or the antigen alone (Claim 1c). Once identified, these complex-specific antibodies can be used to contact a sample (Claim 1d) and detect how much of the original cognate antibody is actually bound to its target, for example, to monitor a therapeutic antibody drug's activity in a patient's body.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in creating an antibody that *only* recognizes the specific shape formed when an original antibody is already bound to its target, ignoring the individual components. This "complex-specific" binding allows for direct and precise measurement of active drug engagement, which was previously challenging.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover antibodies that bind to the cognate antibody when it is not attached to its antigen.
- Does not cover antibodies that bind to the antigen when it is not attached to the cognate antibody.
- Does not cover detection methods where the identifying antibody binds to both the complex and the individual cognate antibody or antigen.
- Does not cover methods for detecting the complex that do not involve first screening a library of antibodies as described in Claim 1a.
- Does not cover detection methods that do not use an isolated monoclonal antibody or functional fragment thereof.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
5/20
Moderate scope
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
$54K – $173K
Midpoint $108K · 16.6 yr remaining · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
7 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Haertle, S., Frisch, C., & Knappik, A. (2026). How to Find Antibodies That Only Detect Bound Drug Targets (U.S. Patent No. 12,590,172). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12590172/complex-specific-antibodies-and-antibody-fragments-and-its-use
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 Find Antibodies That Only Detect Bound Drug Targets cover?
This patent describes a method to create and use special antibodies that only detect when a therapeutic or diagnostic antibody is bound to its target, ignoring both the target and the unbound antibody.
Who owns patent US 12590172?
Morphosys owns this patent, granted in 2026.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on March 30, 2043, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology could significantly improve the development and monitoring of antibody-based drugs. By precisely measuring how much of a therapeutic antibody is actually bound to its target in a patient (Claim 4), doctors and researchers can better understand drug effectiveness and adjust dosages. This could lead to more personalized and effective treatments, especially in areas like cancer therapy or autoimmune diseases, by providing clear data on drug-target engagement.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover antibodies that bind to the cognate antibody when it is not attached to its antigen.
Patent monitoring