News & Insights (Life Sciences & Healthcare)

Advocate General recommends that the ECJ dismiss AstraZeneca's appeal against Losec antitrust decision

Last year, we reported on AstraZeneca's decision to appeal to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) against a finding by the ...

AG in Neurim allows SPCs for usage patents

Case C-130/11 Neurim Pharmaceuticals In Neurim the UK court is seeking additional clarification from the European Court of ...

NHS Primary Care Trusts challenged in the UK for use of cheaper drug off-licence

Novartis announced on Tuesday that it is seeking a judicial review of a decision made by four NHS Primary Care Trusts to approve ...

Cross border injunctions possible in patent cases says Advocate General

Cross border injunctions possible in patent cases says Advocate General C 616/10 Solvay SA v Honeywell Fluorine Products ...

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - April 2012

Welcome to the January issue of InFocus, our life sciences and healthcare e-newsletter. In this issue we look at: ...

OFT refers private healthcare market to Competition Commission

On 4 April 2012, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) confirmed that it would refer the private healthcare market to the Competition ...

UK Government consults on “above the line” research and development

The Government announced in its Autumn Statement in November 2011 that it would consult on the introduction of an 'above the ...

The unitary European patent and the unified European patent litigation system - no political agreement but still opportunities to have your say

There have been no developments of any significance towards finalising agreement on the "EU patent package” (unitary patent, ...

Employees on Twitter – strict liability for pharma?

A recent ruling by the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (the “PMCPA”) has illustrated the challenges that ...

Taylor Wessing awarded European Life Sciences IP Firm of the Year 2012

Taylor Wessing has won the European Life Sciences IP Firm of the Year 2012 at the Managing Intellectual Property Global Awards ...

Health and Social Care Act promises to improve competition in healthcare - has it fallen at the first fence?

On 20 March 2012, the House of Commons voted to adopt the Health and Social Care Bill which has now been given Royal Assent and ...

Patent infringement in the UK and Europe

Usage patents, carve-outs, skinny labelling and off-label prescribing The competitive environment in which life sciences ...

Quetiapine patent, for sustained release formulations, invalid in the UK

Mr. Justice Arnold handed down judgment of the UK High Court today declaring patent EP (UK) 0 907 364 invalid for obviousness. ...

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - January 2012

Welcome to the January issue of InFocus, our life sciences and healthcare e-newsletter. In this issue we look at: ...

A unitary European patent and a unified European patent litigation system – still no political agreement

The latest news is that the so-called Warsaw Convention was not signed on 22 December.  According to the press release from ...

Contract Law Review 2011

As ever, contractual disputes have kept the English courts busy in 2011.  Here is a quick roundup of some of the ...

Life Sciences Review of the Year 2011, and a Preview of 2012

2011 was a year in which the UK life sciences industry has had much to consider: the NHS reforms, the Government’s Strategy for ...

A unitary European patent and a unified European patent litigation system – political agreement by the end of 2011?

Following on from our report in October and our article in BSLR*, Poland which currently holds the rotating presidency of the ...

SPCs for combination products - where are we now and what’s ahead in 2012?

There has been a multitude of references to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to determine how and under what conditions, SPCs ...

Controlled Foreign Companies - Are we nearly there yet?

On 6 December 2011, the Government published draft legislation for consultation on the proposed full reform to the controlled ...

New framework for provision of information to the general public about prescription-only medicines

We have followed the development and reported on proposals for amendments to EU legislation relating to prescription-only ...

Negative and zero term SPCs OK says the ECJ

Merck & Co. Inc. v Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt (Case C-125/10) ECJ decide on negative / zero term SPCs and the starting ...

Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS)

Following close behind last week’s Autumn Statement by the Chancellor, the Government has today published draft legislation ...

Venture capital schemes consultation

Autumn Statement update Following the consultation over the summer on Venture Capital Schemes, the Chancellor announced the ...

SPCs for combination products: Clarification from the ECJ today?

In the October issue of our life sciences and healthcare eBulletin, InFocus, we set out the background and discussed Advocate ...

News on the Patent Box and the R&D tax credit proposals

HM Treasury is expected to publish draft legislation on 6th December 2011, covering both the Patent Box and the R&D tax ...

Interpreting contracts: it’s all common sense

The appeal courts are no strangers to spats over contractual interpretation. But not too many reach the Supreme Court. Rainy Sky ...

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - October 2011

Welcome to the October issue of InFocus, our life sciences and healthcare e-newsletter. In this issue we look ...

A unitary European patent and a unified European patent litigation system – political agreement by the end of 2011?

Unitary Patent As we reported in the July InFocus draft regulations were published on the establishment of a unitary European ...

Taylor Wessing advises F-star in collaboration with Merck Serono

CJEU Judgment in Synthon v Merz (Case C-195/09)

Today the CJEU gave judgment in the Synthon v Merz preliminary reference (C-195/09). This was a reference from the UK High Court ...

The EIS and VCT consultation - Sowing the seeds for growth?

In its 2011 Budget, the Government announced a substantial increase in the tax relief available under the Enterprise Investment ...

Advocate General's Opinion in SPC referral - infringement test rejected

As previously reported in our e-newsletters, InFocus - January 2011 and InFocus - October 2010, there have been a number of ...

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - July 2011

Welcome to the July issue of InFocus, our life sciences and healthcare e-newsletter. In this issue we look at: ...

EU Patent and unified patent litigation system - Update July 2011

Despite the tortuous route to a unified patent and a unified patent litigation court in Europe, both now appear to be a small ...

Social Media and Pharma in the UK: a Review of the Pitfalls and the Latest Guidance

Social media channels are the latest and most dynamic and interactive marketing tools available to business, but in the UK most ...

Clause with teeth: Rights of First Refusal and Liability Caps

Right of first refusal clauses are by no means uncommon in commercial contracts.  But they are relatively rarely ...

HM Treasury consults further on the Patent Box and R&D tax credits

The anticipated consultation on the Patent Box was finally published by HM Treasury on 10 June 2011 together with a linked ...

Negative and zero term SPCs OK says Advocate General

Merck & Co Inc v Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt (Case C-125/10) In his opinion on 9 June 2011, Advocate General Yves Bot ...

Informal consultation on the UK bolar and research exemptions

In its Plan for Growth published in March, the UK Government committed to ensure that the intellectual property system in the UK ...

Jurisdictional arrangements for the EU patent to be discussed at the EU Competiveness Council meeting next week

Following the publication by the Commission of the draft regulations necessary to implement unitary patent protection on 13 April ...

UK healthcare reforms and the "Plan for Growth"

Improved healthcare means opportunities for life sciences and healthcare companies Successive UK governments have recognised ...

Taylor Wessing's Healthcare Group shortlisted for Legal Advisor of the Year at the Independent Healthcare Awards 2011

Taylor Wessing presents on EGA Pre-Conference Seminar

Double partner hire in IP for Taylor Wessing

Following the recent news of Niki Walker's appointment as a new partner to the Employment & Pensions group, international law ...

The Bribery Act 2010 – How will it impact the pharmaceutical industry?

At a time when the value of emerging markets to the pharmaceutical industry is increasing, the global reach of the Bribery Act ...

You never give me your money: Competition law, damages actions, and the healthcare sector

Public healthcare bodies that have suffered loss as a result of competition law infringements should consider ‘follow on’ damages ...

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - April 2011

Welcome to the April issue of InFocus, our life sciences and healthcare e-newsletter. In this issue we look at: ...

Pharma & Social Media - PMCPA takes the plunge (and beats the FDA)

The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) has issued informal guidance on the use of digital communications ...

When taking a medicine off the shelves infringes competition law

At a time when industry experts are talking about the death of the blockbuster drug, product lifecycle management strategies are ...

The EU Patent and the European and EU Patents Court - an update

Following the CJEU opinion on the unified patent litigation system on the 8 March and the European Council vote on the unified ...

Budget widens availability and benefits of EIS and VCT schemes

In yesterday's Budget, the Chancellor announced a raft of measures to boost corporate business in the UK. From a small and medium ...

Budget 2011 – Chancellor confirms details of “Patent Box” and other corporate tax reforms – further consultations in May

As we reported in the January issue of InFocus the long anticipated document entitled “Corporate Tax Reform” was published by the ...

Regulation - in the Spotlight

The courts’ focus on industry strategies could mean some practices are deemed infringements of competition law It is well known ...

The EU Patent and the European and EU Patents Court - March 2011 could be a critical month

At the end of 2010 we posed the question - are we any closer to a unified patent system for Europe? Well, last week, using a fast ...

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - January 2011

Welcome to the January 2011 edition of InFocus, the Life Sciences and Healthcare newsletter. This month we discuss: Sold Out - ...

New European rules on agreements between competitors

The New Research & Development and Specialisation Block Exemption Regulations and Horizontal Co-Operation Agreements ...

Pharma and Social Media – What Does 2011 Hold?

2010 was the year in which the FDA had said they would issue some guidance on the use of social media by pharma.  It was ...

More heartburn for the pharma sector

The European Commission has escalated its crackdown on the pharma sector, conducting dawn raids yesterday on the originator ...

Taylor Wessing acts for f-star on therapeutic technology collaboration

Taylor Wessing has acted for antibody engineering company f-star on a collaboration and license agreement with Boehringer ...

MPF award for Taylor Wessing's commitment to sustainability

Taylor Wessing is celebrating after winning the Sustainability Reporting category at the prestigious MPF European Practice ...

InFocus - Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - October 2010

Welcome to the October 2010 edition of InFocus, the Life Sciences and Healthcare newsletter. This month we discuss: Developing ...

Big Pharma Won't Wait in Rush for Biotech's Drugs

Rising pressure to find new products is prompting big pharmaceutical companies to license or acquire biotechnology companies' ...

The European Commission's 1st Report on the Monitoring of Patent Settlements was published on 5 July 2010

The Report looks at the European competition law aspects of patent settlements, identifies potentially problematic types of ...

Court of Justice follows AG's opinion and limits the scope of DNA patents

We reported previously on Advocate General ("AG") M Paolo Mengozzi's non-binding opinion to the Court of Justice of the ...

InFocus - Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - July 2010

In the July issue of InFocus we discuss: Centralised procedure: guidance on duplicate marketing authorisations KREMEZIN and ...

Protecting the Crown Jewels

This article looks at some of the main IP risks associated with outsourcing product development and manufacture, and sets out ...

Pharma and social media: an uneasy marriage?

Despite being the fastest growing marketing medium for many industries, social media channels present major legal and regulatory ...

InFocus - Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - April 2010

In the April issue of InFocus we discuss: Corporate venturing in the LSH industry ECJ Advocate General attempts to limit scope ...

Taylor Wessing advises on new financing to enhance novel stent technology

The venture capital and life sciences groups at industry leading law firm, Taylor Wessing LLP, have advised new client, Seroba ...

Tentative Steps - A plain legal guidance framework will empower the move to online opportunities

In 2009, pharma first dipped its toe into the uncertain waters of social media. With luck, in 2010 some guidance will emerge from ...

Taylor Wessing advises Myotec Therapeutics on £5.6m funding round

Leading law firm Taylor Wessing has advised Myotec Therapeutics Ltd, the Cambridge based speciality pharmaceutical company, on ...

Generic Substitution - UK Department of Health Consultation

The UK government announced plans to introduce generic substitution in the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) 2009. On ...

InFocus - Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - January 2010

Corporate Venturing, an overview by Taylor Wessing

Politicians, commentators and analysts agree that innovation, especially in sectors such as clean technology, will be of crucial ...

Life Sciences & Healthcare Update - December 2009

EU moves closer to Biosimilar antibodies

Patents and the EU medtech sector: a slumbering volcano

Tim Worden discusses the patent situation regarding medical devices in the EU in this article written by Faraz Kermani for the ...

Taylor Wessing advises Health Investment Holdings Limited on multi-million pound fundraising

European law firm Taylor Wessing LLP has advised independent hospital operator Health Investment Holdings Limited (HIHL) on its ...

Commission consultation on the functioning of the Clinical Trials Directive

The European Commission has launched a public consultation to assess the functioning of the Clinical Trials Directive ...

InFocus - Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - October 2009

Welcome to the October 2009 issue of InFocus

Environmental Highlights for LSH Companies (October 2009)

Topics discussed in this article include: Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 - First ...

Corporate Update - October 2009: Premium and Standard Listings

6 October saw the first step in move to premium and standard listings.

Recent changes in the law - Issues for Venture Capital

From 1 October 2009, the new Companies Act 2006 has now fully replaced existing company legislation. Which recent changes are ...

All change please - unique considerations affecting biotech products

Taylor Wessing acts for Vivacta on a $4.5 million funding round

Taylor Wessing's award-winning Technology and Inward Investment group has acted for UK medtech business, Vivacta Limited, on a ...

InFocus - Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - July 2009

German Parliament Adopts Amended Patent Law Bill

On 28 May 2009 the German federal parliament (Bundestag) adopted the government’s draft bill to simplify and modernise German ...

Actavis v Novartis: the Conor effect and technical obviousness

Taylor Wessing launches its second Global Intellectual Property Index

With the value of many tangible assets, in particular real estate, falling in the current economic climate, there's a growing ...

InFocus - Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - April 2009

Taylor Wessing LLP advises Oxford BioMedica on a new collaboration with Sanofi-Aventis

Leading law firm Taylor Wessing LLP has advised Oxford BioMedica (LSE: OXB) on the negotiation of a new collaboration to develop ...

Environmental Highlights for LSH Companies (April 2009)

ECJ boost for borderline Products

Providing UK patent litigants with a real alternative

Taylor Wessing Review of Patent Cases in 2008

The first assessment of damages caused by an injunction on a patent later found to be invalid

Key considerations in choosing where to litigate a European patent

InFocus - Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - January 2009

Happy New Year and welcome to the January 2009 issue of InFocus. If you have any comments on the contents or the format please ...

Community Patent and Single Court Suffer Familiar Setback

The Regulation of Advanced Therapies: Perspectives from the EU

Protection for DNA-based claims in Europe

No ban on stem cell patents in Europe?

Healthcare and beauty sector worst offenders in ASA survey

The MHRA Investigation into GSK's Reporting of Adverse Events in Seroxat Paediatric Clinical Trials

ECJ guidance on the operation of the mutual recognition procedure

Interim Injunctions in the UK - Recent Pharma Cases in the Patents Court

UK Court clarifies law on selection patents under the Patents Act 1977

InFocus - Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - October 2008

Les Laboratoires Servier v Apotex [2008] EWHC (Ch) 2347

Les Laboratoires Servier v Apotex [2008] EWHC (Ch) 2347

Monsanto Technology LLC v Cargill International SA

Work involving human tissue samples - a new era in the UK

Developments in European Clinical Trial Agreements

Can SPC's have a zero or negative term?

Taylor Wessing advises Innate Pharma on the in-licence of a phase 1 monoclonal antibody from Novo Nordisk

Taylor Wessing's Life Sciences & Healthcare Group has advised Innate Pharma (IPH) on an agreement with Novo Nordisk, in which ...

Monsanto Technology LLC v Cargill International SA

Taylor Wessing advises Asterand plc on licence agreement with Allergan Inc

Taylor Wessing's Life Sciences & Healthcare Group has advised new client Asterand plc, a leading global provider of human ...

Taylor Wessing advises Biota on RSV collaboration and licence agreement

Taylor Wessing's Life Sciences & Healthcare Group has advised new client Biota Holdings Limited, a leading anti-infective ...

Emerging legal issues relating to advanced therapies: a European perspective

Article in SCRIPT Drug Market Developments, August 2008, Dr. Wolfgang Rehmann, Partner IP München and Gareth Morgan, Partner ...

PODCAST - Diligence obligations in Licenses & Collaboration Agreements

PODCAST Sector:  Life Sciences & Healthcare Diligence obligations in Licenses & Collaboration Agreements

PODCAST - Term sheets

PODCAST Sector:  Life Sciences & Healthcare Term sheets

PODCAST - Partner in haste, repent at exit

PODCAST Sector:  Life Sciences & Healthcare Partner in haste, repent at exit

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - July 2008

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare newsletter - July 2008

Our life sciences and healthcare team celebrate the 20th issue of InFocus. In the last four and a half years since our first ...

Taylor Wessing advises NovaThera on £30m merger with MedCell

Taylor Wessing LLP has advised NovaThera on their merger with MedCell, to create a new UK company specialising in musculoskeletal ...

Litigating patents in Europe: Navigating the minefield

"All change please!" - Sweeping new UK legislation on unfair commercial practices comes into force on 26 May 2008

Criminal liability for unfair business-to-consumer ('B2C') commercial practices and misleading business-to-busines ('B2B') ...

Comprehensive ranking of the world's IP jurisdictions

The Global Intellectual Property Index (GIPI), launched today by European law firm Taylor Wessing, presents a statistical ...

Comprehensive ranking of the world's IP jurisdictions

For a detailed breakdown of the IP Index including rankings, country analysis and commentary on the findings, rationale and ...

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare newsletter - May 2008

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - April 2008

Taylor Wessing scoops MIP award for European Life Sciences IP Firm of the Year

Taylor Wessing was voted European Life Sciences IP Firm of the Year at the third annual Managing Intellectual Property Global ...

Nature Biotechnology

Monsanto Technology LLC v. Cargill: a matter of construction

Handbook of European Intellectual Property Management

Litigating Biotech Patents in Europe

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare newsletter - February 2008

Taylor Wessing advises Fovea Pharmaceuticals on its €30m second financing round

Fovea Pharmaceuticals SA, a biomedical and technological company specialising in the development of innovative drug therapy for ...

Taylor Wessing advises Vivacta on £6 million Series B fundraising

Taylor Wessing in London has acted for Vivacta Limited on a £6 million Series B fundraising round. European Venture Capital ...

Employees participation in Biotech Companies

Knowledge Transfer for Biotech Deals

EU ratifies amendment to TRIPS on compulsory licences

EU decision to ratify addition of article 31bis

Discretion to approve sub-licensing must be exercised in good faith

Lymington Marina v Macnamara and others [2007]

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - October 2007

Taylor Wessing is the exclusive European legal sponsor of the 15th Annual BioPartnering Europe Conference

Taylor Wessing is the exclusive European legal sponsor of the 15th Annual BioPartnering Europe (BPE) Conference, on 7-9 October ...

Injunctions pending appeal

Les Laboratoires Servier & anr v Apotex Inc & ors

Legal professional privilege in European Commission competition investigations

The recent decision of the Court of First Instance (CFI) in joined cases T-125/03 & T-253/03, Akzo Nobel Chemicals Ltd and ...

Taylor Wessing advises Vétoquinol on a €250 million IPO deal

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - July 2007

Taylor Wessing advises Innate Pharma S.A. on its recent in-licensing agreement with Cancer Research Technology Limited

Special Edition - InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - April 2007

Taylor Wessing advises Oxford BioMedica on global licensing agreement with Sanofi-aventis

Taylor Wessing advises Oxford BioMedica on global licensing agreement with sanofi-aventis

Taylor Wessing advises on €9 million subscription and placing for AIM-listed company, Arthro Kinetics plc

Taylor Wessing advises on €9 million subscription and placing for AIM-listed company, Arthro Kinetics plc

Daniel Pavin and other members of Taylor Wessing's Life Sciences & Healthcare team contribute to American Bar Association publication

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - February 2007

Taylor Wessing advises the Debiopharm Group on an exclusive agreement with Cambridge Antibody Technology

Taylor Wessing advises UCB on an expanded product license agreement with Jazz Pharmaceuticals

Taylor Wessing advises Synergy Healthcare plc on its £181 million takeover offer for Isotron plc

Taylor Wessing advises Apax Partners and Merlin Biosciences on a $35 million private equity deal

Taylor Wessing advises Neurotech France SA in completing a flip transaction into the US

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - October 2006

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - July 2006

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - May 2006

Taylor Wessing advises Innate Pharma on major partnership with Novo Nordisk

Taylor Wessing advises PanOpSys Limited on a $5.25 million Series A funding with Quester

Taylor Wessing advises Bayer Healthcare AG in a divestment of animal health biological vaccines to Intervet

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - February 2006

Special Edition - InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter

A new framework for approval of medicinal products in Europe.

Confidential Information

Der besondere Umgang mit sensiblen Daten bei Transaktionen im Biotech-Bereich Dr. Christian Traichel wrote an article ...

Speedier patent trials in the UK – the "new" streamlined procedure

A recent decision of the UK patents court is likely to make the streamlined procedure even more common in patent cases.

PPRS investigated by OFT

The Office of Fair Trading has launched a market study into the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme. The Office of Fair ...

Taylor Wessing advises Xention Discovery Ltd on its £11m venture capital funding

Taylor Wessing advises Xention Discovery Ltd on its £11m venture capital funding

Taylor Wessing advises on £4m spinal investment

Taylor Wessing advises on £4m spinal investment

Taylor Wessing advises on Europe's largest venture capital fund raising this year

Taylor Wessing advises on Europe's largest venture capital fund raising this year

Taylor Wessing advises Spain's largest cosmetic surgery group on Ultralase Limited acquisition

Five new partners at Taylor Wessing

Taylor Wessing advises Sphere Medical Holdings

Taylor Wessing's Cambridge office advises on a £20m double act of financing rounds

Taylor Wessing advises First Cambridge Gateway on a £3.2m financing round of DanioLabs

Taylor Wessing advises Advent Venture Partners and Scottish Equity Partners on investment in Rhytec Ltd

Taylor Wessing advises Paradigm Therapeutics Limited on its merger with Amedis Pharmaceuticals Limted

Taylor Wessing advise on the sale of DNA Research Innovations Ltd for up to $65 million to Invitrogen Corporation

Taylor Wessing advised Acolyte Biomedica on £3.7 million funding to launch revolutionary tests to combat superbug