PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: HUMAN NECESSITIES
Class:: MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
Subclass:: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES

Description

This subclass covers pharmaceutical formulations, medicinal preparations, and active ingredients intended for human medical and dental treatment, as well as cosmetic and hygiene products. It encompasses drugs in various forms (tablets, injections, creams, solutions), excipients, delivery systems, and the composition of these preparations. The classification includes cosmetics, toothpastes, and toiletry articles designed for personal care or prophylactic purposes. This subclass is complementary to A61C (dentistry) for dental devices and A61Q (specific hygiene preparations) for categorized cosmetic products, though formulation chemistry remains within A61K.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass A61K recorded 1,792,627 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings declined from 147,606 in 2013 to 132,650 in 2023 (-10%), peaking at 177,518 applications in 2016. The most active applicants in class A61 are PHILIPS ELECTRONICS (18,523 applications), NOVARTIS (14,253 applications) and COVIDIEN (13,953 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

In class comparison

A61K ranks 1st of 13 subclasses with filings in A61, with 1,792,627 applications between 2013 and 2023, 26.5% of the class. Annual filings declined 10% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+32%).

Top 10 of 13 subclasses of class A61 by patent applications, 2013–2023
Rank	Subclass	Title	Applications	Share
1	A61K	Preparations for Medical, Dental or Toiletry Purposes	1,792,627	26.5%
2	A61B, Diagnosis; Surgery; Identification	Diagnosis; Surgery; Identification	1,204,106	17.8%
3	A61P, Specific Therapeutic Activity of Chemical Compounds or Medicinal Preparations	Specific Therapeutic Activity of Chemical Compounds or Medicinal Preparations	1,178,026	17.4%
4	A61M, Devices for Introducing Media Into, or Onto, the Body; Devices for Transducing Body Media or for Taking Media From the Body; Devices for Producing or Ending Sleep or Stupor	Devices for Introducing Media Into, or Onto, the Body; Devices for Transducing Body Media or for Taking Media From the Body; Devices for Producing or Ending Sleep or Stupor	625,206	9.2%
5	A61F, Filters Implantable Into Blood Vessels; Prostheses; Devices Providing Patency To, or Preventing Collapsing Of, Tubular Structures of the Body, e.g. Stents; Orthopaedic, Nursing or Contraceptive Devices; Fomentation; Treatment or Protection of Eyes or Ears; Bandages, Dressings or Absorbent Pads; First-Aid Kits	Filters Implantable Into Blood Vessels; Prostheses; Devices Providing Patency To, or Preventing Collapsing Of, Tubular Structures of the Body, e.g. Stents; Orthopaedic, Nursing or Contraceptive Devices; Fomentation; Treatment or Protection of Eyes or Ears; Bandages, Dressings or Absorbent Pads; First-Aid Kits	447,357	6.6%
6	A61L, Methods or Apparatus for Sterilising Materials or Objects in General; Disinfection, Sterilisation or Deodorisation of Air; Chemical Aspects of Bandages, Dressings, Absorbent Pads or Surgical Articles; Materials for Bandages, Dressings, Absorbent Pads or Surgical Articles	Methods or Apparatus for Sterilising Materials or Objects in General; Disinfection, Sterilisation or Deodorisation of Air; Chemical Aspects of Bandages, Dressings, Absorbent Pads or Surgical Articles; Materials for Bandages, Dressings, Absorbent Pads or Surgical Articles	373,304	5.5%
7	A61H, Physical Therapy Apparatus, e.g. Devices for Locating or Stimulating Reflex Points in the Body; Artificial Respiration; Massage; Bathing Devices for Special Therapeutic or Hygienic Purposes or Specific Parts of the Body	Physical Therapy Apparatus, e.g. Devices for Locating or Stimulating Reflex Points in the Body; Artificial Respiration; Massage; Bathing Devices for Special Therapeutic or Hygienic Purposes or Specific Parts of the Body	247,277	3.7%
8	A61Q, Specific Use of Cosmetics or Similar Toiletry Preparations	Specific Use of Cosmetics or Similar Toiletry Preparations	221,780	3.3%
9	A61G, Transport, Personal Conveyances or Accommodation Specially Adapted for Patients or Disabled Persons; Operating Tables or Chairs; Chairs for Dentistry; Funeral Devices	Transport, Personal Conveyances or Accommodation Specially Adapted for Patients or Disabled Persons; Operating Tables or Chairs; Chairs for Dentistry; Funeral Devices	221,545	3.3%
10	A61N, Electrotherapy; Magnetotherapy; Radiation Therapy; Ultrasound Therapy	Electrotherapy; Magnetotherapy; Radiation Therapy; Ultrasound Therapy	197,020	2.9%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Additional Content

Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air; Chemical aspects of or use of materials for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles Detergent compositions

Related Keywords

ANAESTHETICSANALGESICSANODYNESextracting ANTIBIOTIC(S) from plantsAPERIENTSsubstitutes for BLOODchemical aspects of CONTRACEPTIONDRUGSEMBROCATIONEMOLLIENTSEYE(S) dropsINSULIN(S) compositionsLAXATIVESLINIMENTSMEDICINE(S)compositions of MICROORGANISMSmedicinal, dental, toilet or cosmetic preparations containing MICROORGANISMSNARCOTICSPHARMACEUTICAL preparationsmedical or cosmetic PREPARATION(S)REMEDIESremoving SCURFmedicines for SEA sicknessSEDATIVESTHERAPEUTIC preparationsmedicines for travel-sicknessVERMIFUGESVETERINARY preparationsVIRUSES

25 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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A61K 101/00 Radioactive non-metals
A61K 103/00 Radioactive metals
A61K 125/00 Containing or obtained from roots, bulbs, tubers, corms or rhizomes
A61K 127/00 Containing or obtained from leaves
A61K 129/00 Containing or obtained from bark
A61K 131/00 Containing or obtained from seeds, nuts, fruits or grains
A61K 133/00 Containing or obtained from flowers or blossoms
A61K 135/00 Containing or obtained from stems, stalks, branches, twigs or shoots
A61K 31/00 Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
A61K 33/00 Medicinal preparations containing inorganic active ingredients
A61K 35/00 Medicinal preparations containing materials or reaction products thereof with undetermined constitution
A61K 36/00 Medicinal preparations of undetermined constitution containing material from algae, lichens, fungi or plants, or derivatives thereof, e.g. traditional herbal medicines
A61K 38/00 Medicinal preparations containing peptides
A61K 39/00 Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
A61K 40/00 Cellular immunotherapy
A61K 41/00 Medicinal preparations obtained by treating materials with wave energy or particle radiation
A61K 45/00 Medicinal preparations containing active ingredients not provided for in groups
A61K 47/00 Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
A61K 48/00 Medicinal preparations containing genetic material which is inserted into cells of the living body to treat genetic diseases; Gene therapy
A61K 49/00 Preparations for testing

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class A61, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NL 18,523
NOVARTIS CH 14,253
COVIDIEN US 13,953
ROCHE CH 12,005
CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 11,955
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA US 11,692
HARVARD UNIVERSITY US 11,596
L'OREAL FR 11,593
P&G (PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY) US 11,297
OLYMPUS CORPORATION JP 9,594