Latest News & Features
Big Pharma
The CJEU’s decision in Forsgren has brought greater clarity to the scope of the SPC regulation, including whether a substance is an active ingredient, as Avi Toltzis and Penny Gilbert of Powell Gilbert explain. 1 October 2015
Big Pharma
The tussle between Teva and Amgen over the latter’s SPC for lipegfilgrastim is still playing out in Denmark’s IP court and may yet be referred to the CJEU. Michael Pitzner-Bruun of law firm Kromann Reumert reports. 1 October 2015
Europe
An advocate-general at Europe’s highest court has said SPCs should come into effect once an applicant for a marketing authorisation has been notified of that authorisation. This is good news for SPC owners, say Anja Lunze and Paul England of Taylor Wessing. 1 October 2015
Big Pharma
The UK health secretary has been urged by a health campaigning group to issue a compulsory licence for a breast cancer patent owned by Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche. 1 October 2015
Big Pharma
The Warner-Lambert v Actavis case concerning second medical use patents has resulted in a carefully considered judgment and there are some clear lessons to be learnt, says Arty Rajendra of Rouse Legal. 1 October 2015
Africa
The international police organisation Interpol plays a vital role in connecting law enforcement and health authorities around the world in the fight against pharmaceutical crime. Aline Plançon reports. 1 October 2015
Americas
A US presidential hopeful for the Democratic Party has urged the US to support a request that would permanently free poor countries from their responsibility to grant patent protection for drugs. 30 September 2015
Americas
Pharmaceutical company Allergan has survived an attempt by hedge fund Ferrum Ferro Capital to invalidate a patent covering its Combigan drug after the Patent Trial and Appeal Board opted not to institute an inter partes review. 29 September 2015
Asia-Pacific
A Japanese lawyer has described a ruling by the Supreme Court of Japan as a “death sentence” for product-by-process patents and said it is a good time for drugs companies to challenge rivals’ patents. 29 September 2015
Americas
Biopharmaceutical company Celgene has reiterated its stance on the inter partes review petitions filed by hedge fund manager Kyle Bass and has hinted it will appeal against a recent unfavourable decision. 29 September 2015