Patent protection of inventions relating to combinatorial chemistry is
attended by special challenges. The ''breakthrough'' nature of the fi
eld together with the always complex and often arcane chemical manipul
ations, apparatus, and strategies which suffuse this field make it dif
ficult to describe the inventions adequately. It can be a challenge to
communicate effectively with official authorities charged with patent
examination. Extraordinary effort is called for in clarifying such in
ventions such that their patentability can be appreciated. The utility
of some types of inventions in this field may be open to question; cl
ear statements of at least one acceptable utility-even if only a minor
utility-is beneficial. Because a principal product of many aspects of
combinatorial chemistry is information, e.g., the identification of a
lead compound, offshore ''piracy'' is a risk. Domestic claim tie-ins
may improve the ability to abate such piracy. (C) 1998 John Wiley & So
ns, Inc.