Shark: International Pharmaceutical Active Ingredient Patent Database

The Shark database brings together all relevant patent information for all pharmaceutical active ingredients approved since 2005 across 29 countries (including Europe with Switzerland and the United Kingdom, North America, and Japan). This ensures coverage of the world’s largest pharmaceutical markets.

Around 3,500 active ingredients and fixed-dose combinations are mapped in detail with close to 21,000 patents and more than 31,000 SPCs (Supplementary Protection Certificates). In addition to a user-friendly, clearly structured view of country-specific patent situations, Shark provides preconfigured market analyses and other essential information, such as approval dates, from which highly relevant regulatory exclusivities (data exclusivity, market exclusivity, etc.) can be derived, as well as the product’s development history and the competitive landscape.

Moreover, the database includes more than 800 substances along with their patent status that are still in development, that is, prior to market authorization.

On top of this, Shark contains extensive sales data for these substances. Leverage this unique combination of data to identify commercialization opportunities in the global pharmaceutical industry at an early stage and to make well-informed decisions in time.

In Particular, pharmaceutical manufacturers, statutory and private health insurance companies, and parallel importers benefit from the database, our reliable and responsive support, and one-on-one guidance from our in-house patent expert. Contact us to learn more!

With Shark you always have a clear view of...

  • which patents are blocking potential market entry in your segment
  • what your competitors are currently researching
  • when exclusivities expire (loss of exclusivity)
  • where extensions or patent negotiations are pending that could be relevant for you

Advantages of Shark

  • Analysis of patent expiries by time period or therapeutic area
  • Identification of patent type (dosage form and brand name)
  • Display of exclusivities such as data exclusivity or orphan drug status
  • Identification of extensions, e.g., through SPCs
  • Display of legal uncertainties, including scheduled court dates
  • Reporting of sales figures to support market assessment
  • User-friendly and interactive user interface

Database
 

The patent information on pharmaceutical active substances contained in Shark is sourced from numerous national and international patent offices and is carefully validated before being integrated into Shark. The sales figures are supplied by GalaxyNG, our analytics platform for market data from the pharmaceutical industry.

Did You Know?

What is a patent?

A patent is an intellectual property right that allows the patent holder to prohibit third parties from using the protected invention.
How do you obtain a patent?

One submits a patent application to the patent office. The application describes the invention and clearly distinguishes it from the existing state of the art. In a thorough review process, which usually involves a written exchange with the inventor over several years, the patent office examines whether the invention meets the objective criteria of novelty and inventive step. If these criteria are fulfilled, a patent is granted.
How long does a patent protect against imitators? 

A patent is valid for 20 years, provided the corresponding annual fees are paid over that entire period. And as a side note: In most cases, a product is protected by many different patents rather than just one.
Can the term of protection be extended?

A Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) can be used to extend the protection period of a pharmaceutical patent by up to five years.