Patentability/Novelty/Prior Art Search A patentability search determines whether ornot the compound, formulation, or process is novel. The patent and non-patent references are considered for these types of searches. Search is done before preparing the patent application to determine whether the invention is novel and non-obvious.
Validity/Invalidity Search An invalidity search is to identify patent and non-patent documents that challenges the novelty and obviousness of the claims of the patent. A search of patent related literature and non-patent literature is conducted.
Infringement/Freedom to Operate Search A search conducted for the purpose of determining whether the compound, formulation, or process would infringe upon any in-force patent claims. If you have an issued patent, the infringement search should be done to make sure no one infringes your patent rights, or if you want to use the product or process commercially, a patent search should be performed prior to this activity to make sure you do not infringe any one’s patent right. A search of patent related literature and non-patent literature is conducted.
Patent Family & Legal Status Search This search is done to find out whether there are related filings in other countries or status of the examination, grant, or other expiration in a particular country.
Current Awareness Search Current Awareness searches help you stay current in what is being published in your area of interest through automatic updates from a variety of sources.
Assignee / Inventor Name Search This search is done to locate patents assigned to an inventor or an organization.
USAN/INN Filing
United States Adopted Names are unique nonproprietary names assigned to pharmaceuticals marketed in the United States. Each name is assigned by the USAN Council, which is co-sponsored by the American Medical Association (AMA), the United States Pharmacopeia Convention (USP), and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). A representative of the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also sits on the council.
The USAN Program states that its goal is to select simple, informative, and unique nonproprietary names (also called generic names) for drugs by establishing logical nomenclature classifications based on pharmacological and/or chemical relationships.
The USAN Council works in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO), International Nonproprietary Name (INN) Expert Committee and national nomenclature groups to standardize drug nomenclature and establish rules governing the classification of new substances.
Our role is to develop a strategy to create names for pharmaceutical substances according to the USAN and INN rules. That requires negotiations among USAN, INN and manufacturers.