Samchundang Pharmaceutical Completes Global Patent Restructuring for S-PASS Oral Drug Delivery Platform
Key Insights
Samchundang Pharmaceutical (search) has completed reorganization of its global patent rights structure for the S-PASS (search) oral drug delivery platform, including changes to PCT international patent applications and Taiwan patent rights.
The S-PASS (search) technology employs a dual absorption mechanism combining micelle and biological complexes to convert injection-based biopharmaceuticals into oral formulations, potentially surpassing current SNAC (search) technology limitations.
The company maintains exclusive ownership of all S-PASS (search) intellectual property rights through commissioned research agreements, with patent protection expected to extend until approximately 2045.
Samchundang Pharmaceutical (search) announced on May 21 that it has completed a comprehensive reorganization of its global patent rights structure for the S-PASS (search) oral drug delivery platform, including changes to PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) international patent applications and restructuring patent rights in Taiwan. The strategic move aims to expand global business operations and unify the company's intellectual property management system.
Advanced Oral Drug Delivery Technology
S-PASS (search) represents an innovative oral drug delivery platform technology designed to convert existing injection-based biopharmaceuticals into oral formulations. According to Samchundang Pharmaceutical (search), the technology employs a dual absorption mechanism combining micelle complexes and biological complexes, enabling injection-level rapid effects while protecting peptides from gastric acid and digestive enzymes.
The company asserts that S-PASS (search) technology surpasses the limitations of SNAC (search), which is considered a global standard technology in oral drug delivery. The platform is designed as a solid formulation that does not use oil, improving distribution stability and convenience of administration compared to existing solutions.
Patent Rights and Development Structure
Addressing previous controversies regarding patent ownership, Samchundang Pharmaceutical (search) clarified its exclusive rights to the S-PASS (search) technology. In 2018, the company signed a contract with Summit Biotech (search) in Taiwan for technology development, with Samchundang covering the entire cost of research and development, including animal testing expenses and researcher salaries.
"In the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, it is standard practice for the results of 'commissioned research'—where the funding party supports the project and the research institution performs the development—to belong to the funder," the company explained. "The fact that Summit is listed as the applicant on the international patent is merely an administrative procedure to indicate the research performer. The actual rights and profits are held by Samchundang Pharmaceutical (search)."
Strategic Global Commercialization
The patent restructuring forms part of Samchundang's systematic approach to organizing its intellectual property portfolio in alignment with global commercialization and licensing strategies. A company representative stated, "This reorganization of the rights structure is part of the process of systematizing our IP portfolio in line with our global commercialization and licensing strategy."
The S-PASS (search) technology disclosed in the international patent (WO 2025/255759 A1) is expected to provide Samchundang with exclusive platform technology rights until approximately 2045. The company plans to promote research and development as well as global commercialization based on the S-PASS platform in a step-by-step manner.
Industry Context and Future Outlook
The completion of this patent restructuring positions Samchundang Pharmaceutical (search) to advance its oral drug delivery platform technology in the competitive biopharmaceutical market. The company's focus on converting injection-based therapies to oral formulations addresses a significant unmet need in pharmaceutical development, potentially improving patient compliance and treatment accessibility.
With the unified intellectual property management system now in place, Samchundang is positioned to pursue strategic partnerships and licensing opportunities for the S-PASS (search) platform while maintaining exclusive control over the core technology and its commercial applications.