*3.1.2. Step 2-Screening and selection of patent applications*

Using the DWPI, we surveyed Asian, US, and European patent applications related to rabies control by patent family, as well as patent applications filed under the International Patent Cooperation Treaty [27] for 2001–2011 (the year when priority was claimed based on the patent application) on December 21, 2012. In this study, one should note that the data of "patent applications" represented the data of "patent families" assembled uniquely by the DWPI. The countries targeted for analysis are shown in Table 3 and they were selected based on our previous study, i.e., the countries that published more infectious disease research articles than other countries [10].

We screened patent applications using search formulae 1–7 as shown in Table 3, which were based on keywords and the IPC. Patent applications were selected that contained the keywords in the titles or abstracts and that belonged to the IPC categories. To ensure the complete capture of all relevant patent applications, we used "Rabies" and inflected forms of the keywords such as "Rabic" and "Rabid", and "Lyssa." We also used the IPC categories that included antigens, antibodies, amino acids, chemical compounds, and anti-infectives related to the *Rhabdoviri‐ dae* family or RNA viruses, which include the rabies virus and lyssaviruses.

After screening the patent applications, we selected patent applications related to rabies control. We reviewed all the abstracts and claims for patent applications to identify applica‐ tions related to the prevention and diagnosis of rabies.

We primarily focused on patent applications that claimed technologies for preventive and diagnostic uses related to rabies genes and proteins, but we also included applications related to technologies for producing vaccine adjuvants and for stabilization, as well as other pertinent items within the search scope. For example, a patent application was included that claimed a recombinant adenovirus as a rabies vaccine carrier. However, we excluded patent applications related to research and therapeutic tools for other diseases, e.g., the synthesis of rabies virus proteins for human neurodegenerative disorder therapy and the development of a rabies virus vector for expressing other viral proteins.

#### *3.1.3. Step 3-Analysis of patent applications*

The patent applications selected in Step 2 were analyzed with respect to the following items; patenting activity (the number of patent applications per application year and for each country, and the number of applicants by nationality), major technical areas of patent applications, and the most cited patent applications. We used citation analysis as an indicator of important technological progress, upon which many later patents may rely [28].

abstracts and claims to identify patent applications related to rabies control. The following

\*The number of patent applications was calculated by patent family. In some cases, a patent family contains a number

We regrouped the patent applications and applicants for each country to identify possible differences in technology development among various countries. The numbers of PCT applications and applications in each country were stable during 2001–2011, except in China where the number increased relatively. The US had the most patent applications until 2007, but was overtaken by China in 2008. We found that China had a remarkable increase in patent

analysis was based on results, which included 237 patent applications.

**Table 3.** Table 3 Search formula and the number of patent applications retrieved

**Search formula Number of**

2 (US OR EP OR GB OR DE OR ES OR FR OR IT OR NL OR JP OR CN OR KR

3 (RABIES OR RABIC OR RABID OR LYSSA)/TI/AB/EAB

OR IN)/PC

4 (A61K-039/205 OR C07K-014/145)/IC

7 1 AND 2 AND 3 AND (4 OR 5 OR 6)

IPC: International Patent Classification

of relevant patent applications.

1 PRD = 2001:2011 11,315,347 Priority year

**patent applications retrieved\***

**Survey content**

Trends in Research and Technology Development Related to Zoonosis Control Based on Bibliometric and Patent…

India)

5 (A61P-031/12 OR A61P-031/14)/IC 25,706 IPC for the specific therapeutic activity of chemical

6 (G01N-033/569)/IC 11,177 IPC for investigating or analyzing materials by

1,317 Keywords related to rabies

(A61P-031/14)

micro-organisms

354 Targeted patent applications

*Rhabdoviridae* (C07K-014/145)

20,081,126 Country or patent administration office (the US, the

European Patent Office, the UK, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, China, Korea, and

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/57566

171

601 IPC for medical preparations containing antigens or antibodies against *Rhabdoviridae* (A61K-039/205) or peptides with more than 20 amino acids from

compounds or medicinal preparations for antiinfectives (A61P-031/12) or RNA viruses

determining the chemical or physical properties of

**3.3. Annual change in the number of patent applications by country**

#### **3.2. Total number of patent applications**

The screening of patent applications related to rabies control retrieved 354 candidates. The candidates included keywords related to rabies in the titles or abstracts and belonged to the IPC categories A61K-039/205, C07K-014/145, A61P-031/12, A61P-031/14, or G01N-033/569 (Table 3). Subsequently, we selected 237 of 354 patent applications by reviewing all the


IPC: International Patent Classification

*3.1.2. Step 2-Screening and selection of patent applications*

tions related to the prevention and diagnosis of rabies.

vector for expressing other viral proteins.

*3.1.3. Step 3-Analysis of patent applications*

**3.2. Total number of patent applications**

other countries [10].

170 Trends in Infectious Diseases

Using the DWPI, we surveyed Asian, US, and European patent applications related to rabies control by patent family, as well as patent applications filed under the International Patent Cooperation Treaty [27] for 2001–2011 (the year when priority was claimed based on the patent application) on December 21, 2012. In this study, one should note that the data of "patent applications" represented the data of "patent families" assembled uniquely by the DWPI. The countries targeted for analysis are shown in Table 3 and they were selected based on our previous study, i.e., the countries that published more infectious disease research articles than

We screened patent applications using search formulae 1–7 as shown in Table 3, which were based on keywords and the IPC. Patent applications were selected that contained the keywords in the titles or abstracts and that belonged to the IPC categories. To ensure the complete capture of all relevant patent applications, we used "Rabies" and inflected forms of the keywords such as "Rabic" and "Rabid", and "Lyssa." We also used the IPC categories that included antigens, antibodies, amino acids, chemical compounds, and anti-infectives related to the *Rhabdoviri‐*

After screening the patent applications, we selected patent applications related to rabies control. We reviewed all the abstracts and claims for patent applications to identify applica‐

We primarily focused on patent applications that claimed technologies for preventive and diagnostic uses related to rabies genes and proteins, but we also included applications related to technologies for producing vaccine adjuvants and for stabilization, as well as other pertinent items within the search scope. For example, a patent application was included that claimed a recombinant adenovirus as a rabies vaccine carrier. However, we excluded patent applications related to research and therapeutic tools for other diseases, e.g., the synthesis of rabies virus proteins for human neurodegenerative disorder therapy and the development of a rabies virus

The patent applications selected in Step 2 were analyzed with respect to the following items; patenting activity (the number of patent applications per application year and for each country, and the number of applicants by nationality), major technical areas of patent applications, and the most cited patent applications. We used citation analysis as an indicator of important

The screening of patent applications related to rabies control retrieved 354 candidates. The candidates included keywords related to rabies in the titles or abstracts and belonged to the IPC categories A61K-039/205, C07K-014/145, A61P-031/12, A61P-031/14, or G01N-033/569 (Table 3). Subsequently, we selected 237 of 354 patent applications by reviewing all the

technological progress, upon which many later patents may rely [28].

*dae* family or RNA viruses, which include the rabies virus and lyssaviruses.

\*The number of patent applications was calculated by patent family. In some cases, a patent family contains a number of relevant patent applications.

**Table 3.** Table 3 Search formula and the number of patent applications retrieved

abstracts and claims to identify patent applications related to rabies control. The following analysis was based on results, which included 237 patent applications.

#### **3.3. Annual change in the number of patent applications by country**

We regrouped the patent applications and applicants for each country to identify possible differences in technology development among various countries. The numbers of PCT applications and applications in each country were stable during 2001–2011, except in China where the number increased relatively. The US had the most patent applications until 2007, but was overtaken by China in 2008. We found that China had a remarkable increase in patent

applications after 2002. Japan had a downward trend after 2009 and fell behind India during 2009–2010 (Figure 5).

**Figure 5.** Number of patent applications related to rabies control by country during 2001–2011

The number of patent applications was calculated by patent family. In some cases, a patent family contains a number of relevant patent applications. US: United States, CN: China, WO: PCT, EP: European Patent Office, JP: Japan, IN: India, KR: Korea, DE: Germany, ES: Spain, GB: UK, FR: France, IT: Italy, NL: the Netherlands

uses for the prevention and treatment of rabies. Patent applications related to organic active ingredients used for treatments, fabrication methods for prevention (primarily vaccines), and natural products and Chinese herbal extracts for treatment were more frequent than other patent applications. Patent applications related to natural products and Chinese herbal extracts

**Figure 6.** Number of patent applicants related to rabies control by country during 2001–2011

US: United States, CN: China, JP: Japan, DE: Germany, FR: France, NL: the Netherlands, GB: UK, IN: India, ES: Spain, KR:

1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010

Trends in Research and Technology Development Related to Zoonosis Control Based on Bibliometric and Patent…

Application year

US CN JP DE FR NL GB IN ES KR IT

173

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/57566

The number of patent applications was calculated by patent family. In some cases, a patent belonged to two or more technology fields, so the total number of applications exceeded 237.

Table 5 shows the top 10 most cited patent applications related to rabies. All the patent applications were related to diagnostic or therapeutic methods for rabies, such as immuno‐ conjugates (US 5332567, WO200454622), a vaccine carrier (US 6019978), and a monoclonal antibody production system (WO200476677). It was interesting that all the patent applications were applicable to various pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and mycoplasma, whereas

were primarily from China.

0

Korea, IT: Italy

5

10

15

20

25

Number of patent applicants

**3.6. Top 10 most cited patent applications**

none were specifically applicable to the rabies virus.

#### **3.4. Number of patent applicants by country**

The US had the most applicants, but was overtaken by China in 2008–2009. China had a remarkable increase in applicants after 2003, while it decreased temporarily in 2006. Germany, Japan, and France had ≤5 patent applications per year during 2001–2011 (Figure 6).

#### **3.5. Major technological fields of patent applications**

The technological types of 237 patent applications related to rabies control were determined in the contexts of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. As shown in Table 4, the patent applications were classified into seven technological fields: recombinant virus, protein, peptide, organic active ingredient, natural product, fabrication method, and mutant. Patent applications related to recombinant viruses were the most frequent and they primarily claimed

Trends in Research and Technology Development Related to Zoonosis Control Based on Bibliometric and Patent… http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/57566 173

US: United States, CN: China, JP: Japan, DE: Germany, FR: France, NL: the Netherlands, GB: UK, IN: India, ES: Spain, KR: Korea, IT: Italy

**Figure 6.** Number of patent applicants related to rabies control by country during 2001–2011

uses for the prevention and treatment of rabies. Patent applications related to organic active ingredients used for treatments, fabrication methods for prevention (primarily vaccines), and natural products and Chinese herbal extracts for treatment were more frequent than other patent applications. Patent applications related to natural products and Chinese herbal extracts were primarily from China.

The number of patent applications was calculated by patent family. In some cases, a patent belonged to two or more technology fields, so the total number of applications exceeded 237.

#### **3.6. Top 10 most cited patent applications**

applications after 2002. Japan had a downward trend after 2009 and fell behind India during

1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010

The number of patent applications was calculated by patent family. In some cases, a patent family contains a number of relevant patent applications. US: United States, CN: China, WO: PCT, EP: European Patent Office, JP: Japan, IN: India, KR: Korea, DE: Germany, ES: Spain, GB:

The US had the most applicants, but was overtaken by China in 2008–2009. China had a remarkable increase in applicants after 2003, while it decreased temporarily in 2006. Germany,

The technological types of 237 patent applications related to rabies control were determined in the contexts of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. As shown in Table 4, the patent applications were classified into seven technological fields: recombinant virus, protein, peptide, organic active ingredient, natural product, fabrication method, and mutant. Patent applications related to recombinant viruses were the most frequent and they primarily claimed

Japan, and France had ≤5 patent applications per year during 2001–2011 (Figure 6).

**Figure 5.** Number of patent applications related to rabies control by country during 2001–2011

Application year

US CN WO EP JP IN KR DE ES GB FR IT NL

2009–2010 (Figure 5).

172 Trends in Infectious Diseases

Number of patent applications

0

UK, FR: France, IT: Italy, NL: the Netherlands

**3.4. Number of patent applicants by country**

**3.5. Major technological fields of patent applications**

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Table 5 shows the top 10 most cited patent applications related to rabies. All the patent applications were related to diagnostic or therapeutic methods for rabies, such as immuno‐ conjugates (US 5332567, WO200454622), a vaccine carrier (US 6019978), and a monoclonal antibody production system (WO200476677). It was interesting that all the patent applications were applicable to various pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and mycoplasma, whereas none were specifically applicable to the rabies virus.

#### 174 Trends in Infectious Diseases


**4. General overview of research and technology development related to**

Trends in Research and Technology Development Related to Zoonosis Control Based on Bibliometric and Patent…

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/57566

175

Our bibliometric and patent analyses using the Web of Science®, DWPI, and DPCI highlighted five main features of the trends in research and technology development related to rabies

**4.1. Research and technology developments related to rabies control were diverse and**

Given that the major research areas were veterinary sciences, virology, and immunology (Figure 4), and that the two most cited articles related to rabies control belonged to interdis‐ ciplinary research regions, i.e., agent-based modeling and economic analysis (Table 2), it is apparent that rabies research has diversified from classical to novel research areas. In partic‐ ular, new research is prospective and aims to accelerate the development of domestic and

However, the methods used for rabies diagnosis and vaccine development are progressing if we take patent US 5332567 and US 6019978 as examples of the top 10 most cited patent applications (Table 5). These methods were characterized as being applicable to various other pathogens and were polyspecific. Given that current rabies vaccines aim to introduce new functions, e.g., animal rabies vaccines combined with other antigens [3], these polyspecific

We found that the number of articles related to rabies increased throughout the world, but the number of patent applications directed at rabies control was stable according to PCT and in each country. Given that only two of the top 10 most cited articles were directly related to rabies control, as shown in Table 2, and that none of the top 10 patent applications were specifically for rabies control, as shown in Table 5, it was not clear whether the articles were directly linked to the patent applications for rabies. Thus, it is not necessarily that research on

The survey demonstrated that the US led rabies research because it had the highest percentage of total articles related to rabies, i.e., 32.5% of the total. France ranked second (10.6%) but there was a big difference compared with the US. These two countries and the UK were also the top three producers of articles in the area of infectious diseases (Table 1). Four of the top five organizations that published articles related to rabies were also in these three countries. These results showed that the US, France, and the UK were the undisputed leaders in research on

**rabies control based on bibliometric and patent analyses**

control during 2001–2011.

international management frameworks for rabies.

methods would contribute to further vaccine development.

**4.2. Gap between research and technology development for rabies control**

rabies leads to technological developments related to rabies control.

rabies and all infectious diseases.

**4.3. The US, France, and the UK are the leading countries for rabies research**

**polyspecific**

Table 4. Technology fields of patent applications related to rabies control during 2001–2011 **Table 4.** Technology fields of patent applications related to rabies control during 2001–2011


**4. General overview of research and technology development related to rabies control based on bibliometric and patent analyses**

Our bibliometric and patent analyses using the Web of Science®, DWPI, and DPCI highlighted five main features of the trends in research and technology development related

**4.1. Research and technology developments related to rabies** 

Given that the major research areas were veterinary sciences, virology, and immunology (Figure 4), and that the two most cited articles related to rabies control belonged to interdisciplinary research regions, i.e., agent-based modeling and economic analysis (Table 2), it is apparent that rabies research has diversified from classical to novel research areas. In particular, new research is prospective and aims to accelerate the development of domestic

However, the methods used for rabies diagnosis and vaccine development are progressing if we take patent US 5332567 and US 6019978 as examples of the top 10 most cited patent

Table 5. Top 10 most cited patent applications related to rabies control during 2001–2011 **Table 5.** Top 10 most cited patent applications related to rabies control during 2001–2011

to rabies control during 2001–2011.

**control were diverse and polyspecific**

and international management frameworks for rabies.
