How a Specific Eye Drop Formula Treats Glaucoma
A patent for a precise, low-concentration eye drop solution designed to lower eye pressure in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Original patent title: “USRE48183E1 - Pharmaceutical formulations comprising a pyridylaminoacetic acid compound”
A patent for a precise, low-concentration eye drop solution designed to lower eye pressure in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Granted to Santen Pharmaceutical Co Ltd in 2020 with 16 claims and 1 forward citation.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent covers a specific pharmaceutical liquid formulation used as an eye drop to treat glaucoma. The active ingredient is a chemical compound called isopropyl(6-{[4-(pyrazol-1-yl)benzyl](pyridin-3-ylsulfonyl)aminomethyl}pyridin-2-ylamino)acetate. The claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → define a very narrow concentration range of this ingredient, specifically between 0.001% and 0.003% (weight/volume), while maintaining a pH balance between 4.0 and 8.0. This precise mixture is intended to be applied directly to the eye to reduce intraocular pressure.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover concentrations of the active ingredient outside the 0.001% to 0.003% (w/v) range.
- Does not cover formulations with a pH level outside the 4.0 to 8.0 range.
- Does not cover the chemical compound itself, only this specific pharmaceutical preparation.
- Does not cover delivery methods other than eye drops or topical instillation.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The invention focuses on a very specific 'sweet spot' concentration range that provides the necessary pressure-lowering effect while likely minimizing the irritation or toxicity often associated with higher doses of such compounds.
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
Rhopressa (netarsudil) or similar Rho kinase inhibitor eye drops
Prescription glaucoma eye drop medications
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness, and managing intraocular pressure is the primary treatment. By patenting a specific, highly diluted concentration, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more → protects a formulation that likely balances efficacy with reduced side effects or improved stability, which is critical for daily patient compliance.
Filed
August 28, 2018
Granted
September 1, 2020
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is the primary assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more → and remains active in ophthalmic research. Other major pharmaceutical companies focused on ophthalmology, such as Alcon and Allergan (now part of AbbVie), operate in this same space of developing pressure-lowering eye drops.
Market impact
This patent helps secure a specific product formulation within the competitive market for glaucoma treatments. It provides a legal barrier for competitors looking to replicate this specific dosage profile, forcing them to either develop different concentrations or alternative chemical delivery systems.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent covers a specific pharmaceutical liquid formulation used as an eye drop to treat glaucoma. The active ingredient is a chemical compound called isopropyl(6-{[4-(pyrazol-1-yl)benzyl](pyridin-3-ylsulfonyl)aminomethyl}pyridin-2-ylamino)acetate. The claims define a very narrow concentration range of this ingredient, specifically between 0.001% and 0.003% (weight/volume), while maintaining a pH balance between 4.0 and 8.0. This precise mixture is intended to be applied directly to the eye to reduce intraocular pressure.
The clever bit
The invention focuses on a very specific 'sweet spot' concentration range that provides the necessary pressure-lowering effect while likely minimizing the irritation or toxicity often associated with higher doses of such compounds.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover concentrations of the active ingredient outside the 0.001% to 0.003% (w/v) range.
- Does not cover formulations with a pH level outside the 4.0 to 8.0 range.
- Does not cover the chemical compound itself, only this specific pharmaceutical preparation.
- Does not cover delivery methods other than eye drops or topical instillation.
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
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
11/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 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
$140K – $449K
Midpoint $281K · 12.2 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
16 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Kroon, H., Shams, N., Kawata, H., & Kawabata, N. (2020). How a Specific Eye Drop Formula Treats Glaucoma (U.S. Patent No. RE48,183). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE48183/trikafta-triple-combination
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 a Specific Eye Drop Formula Treats Glaucoma cover?
A patent for a precise, low-concentration eye drop solution designed to lower eye pressure in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Who owns patent US RE48183?
Santen Pharmaceutical Co Ltd owns this patent, granted in 2020.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 1, 2040, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US RE48183 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness, and managing intraocular pressure is the primary treatment. By patenting a specific, highly diluted concentration, the assignee protects a formulation that likely balances efficacy with reduced side effects or improved stability, which is critical for daily patient compliance.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover concentrations of the active ingredient outside the 0.001% to 0.003% (w/v) range.
Patent monitoring