Our specialist intellectual property lawyers, including several with scientific backgrounds, have extensive sector knowledge and experience of the pharmaceutical, biotech and medtech industries.
We help clients engaged in drug discovery, biotechnology, medical devices and e-health from early stage R&D and collaborations, through to commercial licensing and UK and international patent and trade mark disputes.
We understand the full scope of business-critical agreements that underpin the research and development stages of new pharmaceutical and medtech products, including complex co-development and licensing arrangements. Further down the chain we assist with specialist manufacturing and supply terms. At the same time our practical experience in the highly regulated field of drug development enables us to support you in regulatory and compliance regimes and pharmacovigilance.
With deep sector experience, we add strategic value to help clients obtain and maximise market exclusivities. Our lawyers have led complex, multi-jurisdictional life sciences patent litigation, acting both for brand owners and generic drug manufacturers. We advise on freedom to operate and clearing the way, and co-ordinate litigation strategies across Europe and beyond.
Combining extensive experience in wireless communications technologies with deep life sciences sector expertise, we also have specialist knowledge to advise clients on unique issues, risks and opportunities in digital health solutions and connected drug delivery devices.
Our lawyers advise on a broad spectrum of issues across diverse areas in life sciences and digital health including:
- IP ownership, licensing and assignments
- development and commercialisation strategies
- route to market and freedom to operate
- patent and SPC litigation strategies
- regulatory issues and compliance
- brands and marketing
- parallel imports
- software as a medical device
Recent experience
Our team members’ recent life sciences and digital health experience includes:
- representing a global pharmaceutical company in UK Patents Court proceedings, part of a multinational patent dispute concerning RSV vaccines based on the RSV prefusion F-protein
- acting for a major Indian manufacturer of trans-catheter aortic heart valves in a multi-national patent dispute, with parallel EPO opposition proceedings alongside proceedings in multiple European courts, including the Unified Patent Court
- advising a biomarker diagnostic company on a patent licence and assignment for its novel medical device that will be able to detect a traumatic brain injury
- advising and negotiating a complex multi-million-pound agreement for a life sciences company including IPR licensing, co-development work, milestone payments and patent assignment on successful outcome of clinical trials
- acting for a multinational biotech company in patent infringement and revocation proceedings concerning the glycosylation profile of antibodies, with parallel proceedings in the UK and Germany
- advising a biotech company on the scale-up and commercialisation of its proprietary, food-grade, algae strains including drafting and negotiating terms with scale-up partners and multi-national food manufacturers
- representing a medical device manufacturer in a patent dispute in the UK Patents Court and Court of Appeal relating to atrial septal occluders, with parallel proceedings in Germany that reached the German Supreme Court
- advising an NHS Innovation Hub on a patent assignment and revenue sharing agreement for a bespoke new COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) App for interactive COPD self-management and remote monitoring of key metrics
- advising a connected health manufacturer on issues relevant to e-health, from R&D and contribution to technical standards to licensing and enforcement strategies
- acting for a pioneering epigenetics testing company on its first seed investment round, including assistance with the due diligence activities for the investment which required an understanding of the science behind epigenetic factors affecting welfare and chronic disease and drivers for personalized healthcare
- advising a leading supplier and manufacturer of implantable textiles in relation to an exclusive licence to an unpublished patent application and a development programme including animal and human trials
- advising a connected health medtech company on important aspects of the commercial sale of one of its medical devices in accordance with the EU Medical Device Regulations, including its marketing campaign and the structure of payments to healthcare professionals in compliance with the Regulations and relevant code of practice for the healthcare professionals
