A61P SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
Introduced: January 2000
Classification Context
- Section:
- HUMAN NECESSITIES
- Class:
- MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- Subclass:
- SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
Description
A61P classifies chemical compounds and medicinal preparations according to their specific therapeutic effects and clinical applications in human and veterinary medicine. This subclass encompasses pharmaceuticals organized by disease or condition treated, such as agents for cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, or neurological disorders, rather than by chemical structure or manufacturing process. Inventions in this category include active pharmaceutical ingredients, drug formulations, and combination therapies where the therapeutic target or indication is the primary classification criterion. Note that this class complements A61K (preparations for medical purposes), which focuses on formulation aspects and composition, whereas A61P emphasizes the therapeutic purpose and biological activity of the preparation.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass A61P recorded 1,178,026 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 87,753 in 2013 to 99,310 in 2023 (+13%), peaking at 118,515 applications in 2021. 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
A61P ranks 3rd of 13 subclasses with filings in A61, with 1,178,026 applications between 2013 and 2023, 17.4% of the class. Annual filings grew 13% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+32%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A61K, Preparations for Medical, Dental or Toiletry Purposes | 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 | 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
Drug(s) drugs includes chemical compounds or compositions with therapeutic activity, i.e. having the ability to cause a physiological, pharmacological or biological effect.
22 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- A61P 1/00 Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
- A61P 11/00 Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
- A61P 13/00 Drugs for disorders of the urinary system
- A61P 15/00 Drugs for genital or sexual disorders; Contraceptives
- A61P 17/00 Drugs for dermatological disorders
- A61P 19/00 Drugs for skeletal disorders
- A61P 21/00 Drugs for disorders of the muscular or neuromuscular system
- A61P 23/00 Anaesthetics
- A61P 25/00 Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
- A61P 27/00 Drugs for disorders of the senses
- A61P 29/00 Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
- A61P 3/00 Drugs for disorders of the metabolism
- A61P 31/00 Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
- A61P 33/00 Antiparasitic agents
- A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
- A61P 37/00 Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
- A61P 39/00 General protective or antinoxious agents
- A61P 41/00 Drugs used in surgical methods, e.g. surgery adjuvants for preventing adhesion or for vitreum substitution
- A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups
- A61P 5/00 Drugs for disorders of the endocrine system
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