Analysis of Patented Homeopathic Products and Medicines in Brazil

Abstract

Objectives: This study was to carry out a prospective study on the patents reports of homeopathic formulations in the brazilian intellectual property bank, the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). Methods: This is a prospective research of patents referring to homeopathy products and medicines carried in May 2020. Searches were made for patents deposited with homeopathic purpose with the terms "homeopathy" and "homeopathic" from the first document until the last one deposited in 2019. We have found thirty-eight deposits with the search terms cited above, after exclusion of duplicates we selected twenty four. Results: Among the 24 patent reports selected, 15 (62.5%) were patents of invention. Among the classification of products, we highlight those of type A61K with 19 (79.1%). Twenty-four deposits were selected with the search terms "homeopathy" and "homeopathic". 20 (83.3 %) deposits with the term "homeopathic" and 4 (16.66%) to the term "homeopathy". Among the reports stand out patents of homeopathic formulations 14 (58.3%). There were a greater number of deposits in the years 2009 and 2013, both with 4 (16.6%) deposits. Conclusion: After analyzing patents on homeopathic products at the intellectual property bank in Brazil, it is concluded that most are related to new formulations. It can be seen that in Brazil the interest in relation to the protection of intellectual property in this topic is still small.