Database of Patented Drugs: A Comprehensive Guide

In this guide, we will explore various databases and resources that provide information on patented drugs and compounds. These resources are useful for researchers looking to identify drugs, their targets, and associated patents. We will also discuss the distinction between “drugs” and “compounds” and provide tips for navigating these databases.

Step 1: Understand the Difference Between Drugs and Compounds

• Drugs: Compounds that have been approved for therapeutic use by regulatory agencies (e.g., FDA, EMA). They have undergone clinical trials and are used to treat, cure, or prevent diseases.
• Compounds: Chemical entities that may or may not have biological activity. Not all compounds are drugs, but drugs are a subset of compounds.

For your project, you are interested in patented compounds, which are often drugs or drug candidates.

Step 2: Explore Databases of Patented Drugs

Here are some of the most widely used databases for finding information on patented drugs and compounds:

1. DrugBank

• Description: A comprehensive database of FDA-approved drugs, experimental drugs, and their targets.
• Features:
  • Drug-target interactions.
  • Pharmacological data.
  • Patent information for many drugs.
• Website: DrugBank

2. ChEMBL

• Description: A database of bioactive molecules with drug-like properties.
• Features:
  • Bioactivity data for drug candidates.
  • Patent information linked to compounds.
• Website: ChEMBL

3. Therapeutic Target Database (TTD)

• Description: A database of known and explored therapeutic protein and nucleic acid targets, targeted drugs, and pathways.
• Features:
  • Drug-target interactions.
  • Patent information for drugs.
• Website: TTD

4. FDA Orange Book

• Description: A list of approved drugs with therapeutic equivalence evaluations.
• Features:
  • Patent and exclusivity information for FDA-approved drugs.
• Website: FDA Orange Book

5. KEGG DRUG

• Description: A database of approved drugs in Japan, the USA, and Europe.
• Features:
  • Drug classification and target information.
  • Links to pathways and diseases.
• Website: KEGG DRUG

6. PubChem

• Description: A free database of chemical molecules and their activities.
• Features:
  • Patent information for compounds.
  • Bioactivity data.
• Website: PubChem

7. SIDER

• Description: A database of drug side effects and indications.
• Features:
  • Side effect information for marketed drugs.
  • Useful for understanding drug safety profiles.
• Website: SIDER

8. Enhanced NCI Database Browser

• Description: A resource for exploring NCI’s drug discovery programs.
• Features:
  • Information on oncology drugs and drug candidates.
• Website: Enhanced NCI Database Browser

Step 3: Querying Patented Drugs

Example: Using DrugBank to Find Patented Drugs

1. Go to DrugBank.
2. Search for a drug of interest (e.g., “Aspirin”).
3. Navigate to the “Patents” section to view patent information.

Example: Using ChEMBL to Find Patented Compounds

1. Go to ChEMBL.
2. Search for a compound (e.g., “Imatinib”).
3. Check the “Patent” field for associated patent numbers.

Step 4: Analyze Drug-Target Interactions

Once you have identified patented drugs, you can explore their gene/protein targets using the following resources:

• STITCH: A database of chemical-protein interactions.
  • Website: STITCH
• DGIdb: A database of drug-gene interactions.
  • Website: DGIdb

Step 5: Cross-Jurisdictional Patent Information

If you are interested in patents granted in one jurisdiction (e.g., US) but rejected in another (e.g., EU), you can use the following resources:

• Espacenet: A free patent search tool by the European Patent Office.
  • Website: Espacenet
• USPTO Patent Full-Text and Image Database: A search tool for US patents.
  • Website: USPTO

Step 6: Automate Data Retrieval (Optional)

For large-scale analysis, you can use APIs or scripting to retrieve data programmatically.

Example: Using Python to Query DrugBank

import requests

# Example API call to DrugBank (requires an API key)
url = "https://go.drugbank.com/releases/latest/downloads/all-drugbank-vocabulary"
response = requests.get(url)

if response.status_code == 200:
    data = response.json()
    for drug in data:
        print(f"Drug: {drug['name']}, Patents: {drug['patents']}")
else:
    print("Failed to retrieve data")

Tips and Tricks

1. Combine Databases: Use multiple databases to cross-validate information.
2. Focus on Approved Drugs: If your goal is to study drugs with therapeutic use, prioritize FDA-approved drugs.
3. Check for Updates: Databases are frequently updated, so ensure you are using the latest version.
4. Use APIs: For large datasets, use APIs to automate data retrieval and analysis.

By following this guide, you can efficiently identify patented drugs, their targets, and associated gene interactions. This information is invaluable for research projects focused on drug discovery and pharmacogenomics.