Chemical Compounds to Block a Specific KRAS Cancer Gene
This patent describes new chemical compounds designed to stop a specific mutated protein called KRAS G12C, which is often found in various cancers, potentially offering new ways to treat the disease.
Original patent title: “6,7-dihydro-pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine inhibitors of KRAS G12C mutant”
This patent describes new chemical compounds designed to stop a specific mutated protein called KRAS G12C, which is often found in various cancers, potentially offering new ways to treat the disease. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes new chemical compounds, generally referred to as Formula (I), and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. These compounds are designed to stop or 'inhibit' the activity of a specific mutated protein called KRAS G12C. By blocking this protein, the compounds are intended to act as therapeutic agents to treat various types of cancer. The patent also covers pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and methods for using them in the therapy and prophylaxis of cancer. For example, a patient with lung cancer driven by the KRAS G12C mutation could receive a drug based on these compounds to slow or stop tumor growth. Without the specific claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →, the precise chemical structures and their exact scope of protection are not detailed.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover inhibitors for other specific KRAS mutations, such as KRAS G12D or KRAS G12V.
- Does not cover cancer treatments that target different proteins or biological pathways unrelated to KRAS G12C.
- Does not cover non-chemical methods of inhibiting KRAS G12C, such as gene editing or RNA interference.
- Does not cover compounds that do not fall under the general chemical description of Formula (I) as implied by the abstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more →.
- Does not cover treating cancers where the KRAS G12C mutation is not present.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever bit is identifying specific chemical structures (Formula I) that can selectively bind to and inhibit the KRAS G12C mutant protein. This is a significant challenge because KRAS is a small protein with a smooth surface, making it difficult for drugs to attach effectively. The compounds described here achieve this precise targeting.
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
Sotorasib (Lumakras)
Adagrasib (Krazati)
Targeted lung cancer therapies
Targeted colorectal cancer therapies
Why it matters
The bigger picture
The KRAS G12C mutation is a common driver in several difficult-to-treat cancers, including lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. For decades, KRAS was considered 'undruggable,' meaning scientists struggled to find ways to block its activity with medicines. This patent contributes to the development of specific chemical compounds that can overcome this challenge, offering a new class of targeted therapies for patients with these specific mutations.
Filed
November 23, 2021
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major pharmaceutical companies like Amgen and Mirati Therapeutics have already brought KRAS G12C inhibitors to market. Other companies, including Revolution Medicines, Novartis, Sanofi, and AstraZeneca, are actively developing next-generation KRAS inhibitors or combination therapies. The original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, though unknown for this specific patent, is likely a pharmaceutical or biotech company focused on oncology.
Market impact
The development of KRAS G12C inhibitors has opened a new frontier in targeted oncology, creating a new market segment for previously untreatable patient populations. This has led to the first drug approvals for KRAS-mutated cancers and significant investment in further KRAS targeting research, including inhibitors for other KRAS mutations and combination strategies to overcome drug resistance.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes new chemical compounds, generally referred to as Formula (I), and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. These compounds are designed to stop or 'inhibit' the activity of a specific mutated protein called KRAS G12C. By blocking this protein, the compounds are intended to act as therapeutic agents to treat various types of cancer. The patent also covers pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and methods for using them in the therapy and prophylaxis of cancer. For example, a patient with lung cancer driven by the KRAS G12C mutation could receive a drug based on these compounds to slow or stop tumor growth. Without the specific claims, the precise chemical structures and their exact scope of protection are not detailed.
The clever bit
The clever bit is identifying specific chemical structures (Formula I) that can selectively bind to and inhibit the KRAS G12C mutant protein. This is a significant challenge because KRAS is a small protein with a smooth surface, making it difficult for drugs to attach effectively. The compounds described here achieve this precise targeting.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover inhibitors for other specific KRAS mutations, such as KRAS G12D or KRAS G12V.
- Does not cover cancer treatments that target different proteins or biological pathways unrelated to KRAS G12C.
- Does not cover non-chemical methods of inhibiting KRAS G12C, such as gene editing or RNA interference.
- Does not cover compounds that do not fall under the general chemical description of Formula (I) as implied by the abstract.
- Does not cover treating cancers where the KRAS G12C mutation is not present.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
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
$36K – $115K
Midpoint $72K · 15.1 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
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). Chemical Compounds to Block a Specific KRAS Cancer Gene (U.S. Patent No. 12,735,425). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12735425/67-dihydro-pyrano23-dpyrimidine-inhibitors-of-kras-g12c-mutant
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 Chemical Compounds to Block a Specific KRAS Cancer Gene cover?
This patent describes new chemical compounds designed to stop a specific mutated protein called KRAS G12C, which is often found in various cancers, potentially offering new ways to treat the disease.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
The KRAS G12C mutation is a common driver in several difficult-to-treat cancers, including lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. For decades, KRAS was considered 'undruggable,' meaning scientists struggled to find ways to block its activity with medicines. This patent contributes to the development of specific chemical compounds that can overcome this challenge, offering a new class of targeted therapies for patients with these specific mutations.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover inhibitors for other specific KRAS mutations, such as KRAS G12D or KRAS G12V.
Patent monitoring