Antibodies to Target Tau Protein in Brain Diseases
This patent describes specific antibodies designed to bind to the tau protein, aiming to slow down or stop brain diseases linked to tau, like Alzheimer's.
Original patent title: “Antibodies recognizing tau”
This patent describes specific antibodies designed to bind to the tau protein, aiming to slow down or stop brain diseases linked to tau, like Alzheimer's. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent focuses on creating special proteins called antibodies that can find and attach to a specific target: the tau protein. The abstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more → states these antibodies "specifically bind tau." By binding to tau, these antibodies are designed to "inhibit or delay tau-associated pathologies" which are the harmful changes in the brain caused by tau. This could also delay "associated symptomatic deterioration," meaning the worsening of disease symptoms. For example, such an antibody might prevent abnormal tau from clumping together in brain cells, a process seen in neurodegenerative diseases.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover small molecule drugs or other non-antibody treatments for tau-associated pathologies.
- Does not cover antibodies that target other proteins or biological markers not related to tau.
- Does not cover diagnostic methods for tau-associated pathologies, only therapeutic intervention.
- Does not cover antibodies that do not specifically bind to the tau protein as described.
- Does not cover methods of treatment that do not involve administering these specific antibodies.
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 the specific design of antibodies that can precisely recognize and bind to the tau protein. This specific binding is intended to disrupt the harmful processes caused by tau, thereby inhibiting or delaying the progression of brain pathologies and their symptoms.
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
Experimental treatments for Alzheimer's disease
Research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) therapies
Drug development for frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
Antibody-based therapies for neurodegenerative disorders
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Tau protein plays a critical role in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. When tau misbehaves, it forms tangles inside brain cells, disrupting their function and leading to cell death. Developing antibodies that can target and neutralize problematic tau could offer a way to treat or slow the progression of these devastating conditions, which currently have limited effective treatments.
Filed
November 8, 2019
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major pharmaceutical companies like Biogen, Eli Lilly, and Roche, along with numerous biotech startups, are actively researching and developing antibody-based therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Many of these efforts focus on targeting tau or amyloid-beta proteins, which are key drivers of conditions like Alzheimer's. The original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more → is unknown, but the field is highly competitive.
Market impact
The development of effective tau-targeting antibodies could profoundly impact the treatment landscape for neurodegenerative diseases. If successful, such therapies could create a new category of disease-modifying drugs, potentially slowing or halting conditions like Alzheimer's, which currently lack cures. This would represent a significant shift from symptomatic treatments to addressing the underlying pathology, opening up a multi-billion dollar market.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent focuses on creating special proteins called antibodies that can find and attach to a specific target: the tau protein. The abstract states these antibodies "specifically bind tau." By binding to tau, these antibodies are designed to "inhibit or delay tau-associated pathologies" which are the harmful changes in the brain caused by tau. This could also delay "associated symptomatic deterioration," meaning the worsening of disease symptoms. For example, such an antibody might prevent abnormal tau from clumping together in brain cells, a process seen in neurodegenerative diseases.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the specific design of antibodies that can precisely recognize and bind to the tau protein. This specific binding is intended to disrupt the harmful processes caused by tau, thereby inhibiting or delaying the progression of brain pathologies and their symptoms.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover small molecule drugs or other non-antibody treatments for tau-associated pathologies.
- Does not cover antibodies that target other proteins or biological markers not related to tau.
- Does not cover diagnostic methods for tau-associated pathologies, only therapeutic intervention.
- Does not cover antibodies that do not specifically bind to the tau protein as described.
- Does not cover methods of treatment that do not involve administering these specific antibodies.
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 · 13.1 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). Antibodies to Target Tau Protein in Brain Diseases (U.S. Patent No. 12,735,507). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12735507/antibodies-recognizing-tau
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 Antibodies to Target Tau Protein in Brain Diseases cover?
This patent describes specific antibodies designed to bind to the tau protein, aiming to slow down or stop brain diseases linked to tau, like Alzheimer's.
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?
Tau protein plays a critical role in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. When tau misbehaves, it forms tangles inside brain cells, disrupting their function and leading to cell death. Developing antibodies that can target and neutralize problematic tau could offer a way to treat or slow the progression of these devastating conditions, which currently have limited effective treatments.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover small molecule drugs or other non-antibody treatments for tau-associated pathologies.
Patent monitoring