How Specialized Nanobodies Block Blood Clotting Proteins
A patent describing specific, tiny antibody fragments designed to bind to and inhibit Von Willebrand Factor, a protein that triggers blood clotting.
Original patent title: “Single domain VHH antibodies against Von Willebrand Factor”
A patent describing specific, tiny antibody fragments designed to bind to and inhibit Von Willebrand Factor, a protein that triggers blood clotting. Granted to Ablynx NV in 2013 with 14 claims and 9 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → specific protein sequences known as Nanobodies that target Von Willebrand Factor (vWF). vWF is a protein in the blood that acts like glue, helping platelets stick together to form clots. By binding to vWF using specific amino acid sequences in their 'complementarity determining regions' (the parts of the antibody that actually grab the target), these Nanobodies prevent the protein from functioning. This effectively stops the blood from clotting in situations where it might be dangerous, such as in certain cardiovascular diseases.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover general-purpose antibodies derived from traditional, large-format immune systems.
- Does not cover Nanobodies that target proteins other than Von Willebrand Factor.
- Does not cover amino acid sequences outside of the specific CDR combinations defined in the claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →.
- Does not cover methods of manufacturing Nanobodies that do not involve the specific sequences listed.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the extreme smallness of the VHH domain (a single-domain antibody), which allows it to reach 'hidden' binding sites on the vWF protein that larger, traditional antibodies cannot access.
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
Caplacizumab (Cablivi)
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is central to the development of Caplacizumab, a drug used to treat acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (a rare blood disorder). By using small, stable Nanobodies instead of large antibodies, researchers created a drug that can be highly specific and potentially easier for the body to process. It represents a shift toward using 'domain antibodies' in modern medicine.
Filed
June 24, 2010
Granted
February 12, 2013
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Ablynx, now a subsidiary of Sanofi, is the primary developer of this technology. Other biotech firms are actively researching VHH-based therapies to treat inflammatory and blood-related diseases by leveraging the unique stability and tissue-penetration properties of these single-domain proteins.
Market impact
This patent helped establish the clinical viability of Nanobody-based therapeutics. It paved the way for the approval of the first-ever Nanobody drug, validating this platform as a legitimate alternative to traditional monoclonal antibodies in the pharmaceutical industry.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent claims specific protein sequences known as Nanobodies that target Von Willebrand Factor (vWF). vWF is a protein in the blood that acts like glue, helping platelets stick together to form clots. By binding to vWF using specific amino acid sequences in their 'complementarity determining regions' (the parts of the antibody that actually grab the target), these Nanobodies prevent the protein from functioning. This effectively stops the blood from clotting in situations where it might be dangerous, such as in certain cardiovascular diseases.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the extreme smallness of the VHH domain (a single-domain antibody), which allows it to reach 'hidden' binding sites on the vWF protein that larger, traditional antibodies cannot access.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover general-purpose antibodies derived from traditional, large-format immune systems.
- Does not cover Nanobodies that target proteins other than Von Willebrand Factor.
- Does not cover amino acid sequences outside of the specific CDR combinations defined in the claims.
- Does not cover methods of manufacturing Nanobodies that do not involve the specific sequences listed.
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
20/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
9/20
Moderate scope
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
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
$126K – $403K
Midpoint $252K · 4.0 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.
The original legal language
Original claims
14 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Silence, K. (2013). How Specialized Nanobodies Block Blood Clotting Proteins (U.S. Patent No. 8,372,398). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8372398/subcutaneous-herceptin
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 Specialized Nanobodies Block Blood Clotting Proteins cover?
A patent describing specific, tiny antibody fragments designed to bind to and inhibit Von Willebrand Factor, a protein that triggers blood clotting.
Who owns patent US 8372398?
Ablynx NV owns this patent, granted in 2013.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on February 12, 2033, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8372398 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 9 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is central to the development of Caplacizumab, a drug used to treat acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (a rare blood disorder). By using small, stable Nanobodies instead of large antibodies, researchers created a drug that can be highly specific and potentially easier for the body to process. It represents a shift toward using 'domain antibodies' in modern medicine.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover general-purpose antibodies derived from traditional, large-format immune systems.
Patent monitoring