Pharmaceuticals

Protection of intellectual property in the pharmaceutical sector is paramount due to the substantial investment of capital, time, and expertise that is required to steer a drug candidate from conception to commercialisation, amidst a myriad of developmental and regulatory hurdles.

Patents constitute the most important form of protection for pharmaceutical inventions, functioning as significant strategic assets for pharmaceutical companies (whether small or large), in contributing to competitive advantage, market capitalisation, investor confidence, and revenue generation.

Innovation within the pharmaceutical sector takes many forms and is by no means limited to the identification of novel compounds or compositions. Patentable inventions include the application of known pharmaceutical products to new therapies (second medical uses), the development of new dosing regimens, novel pharmaceutically-active forms such as polymorphs, previously unknown combinations of multiple active compounds, or composites for controlled delivery.

FB Rice have exceptional experience working with innovators across the full breadth of the pharmaceutical industry, from early identification of active pharmaceutical candidates, to clinical-stage experimentation and scaled-up manufacture, as well as those working the development of generic medicines. By understanding the complexities of the technologies, and the guiding regulatory framework, our large and highly-skilled team of patent specialists have secured granted patent protection for pharmaceuticals and methods that have proceeded to regulatory approval. This has included the tailoring of patent filing and prosecution strategies for maximising the scope and duration of protection through patent term extensions, which allows for an additional 5 year term for viable patents.