간 기능 관련 식품분야의 국내·외 특허동향 분석

In this study, 3,301 domestic and foreign patents, established from 1980 to June, 2007, were reviewed in order to examine the technological trends in treating or preventing liver disease. Primary focus was placed on countries such as Korea, Japan, and the United States - the leading nations with regard to liver function research. This paper explores the systematic search that utilized a research-focused database and research analysts. Since the year 2000, Korea has demonstrated increased developments in the area of diet and liver disease, as shown by an increase in relevant patent caseloads and submissions especially for medicinal preparations containing compounds or reaction products with undetermined constitutions. In addition, there was up to a 29% increase in themarket share and the frequency of patent submissionshad increased. Japan has shown a similar trend to Korea with an increase in research, but has focused more on medical preparations containing active organic ingredients. In the United States, an increase in the number of patents was shown after the year 2000.