Philochem AG Case Study

Philochem based in Zurich Switzerland, a leader in designing and screening DNA-encoded combinatorial libraries, relied on Mewburn Ellis for our expertise in patent drafting, prosecution, and defence. The patent (EP3083957), covering innovations in Philochem's DNA-encoded chemical library technology, was granted in 2018 and subsequently opposed by a larger competitor.

The granted patent faced opposition, and we successfully defended it through both European Patent Office (EPO) opposition and appeal proceedings, with the claims eventually being maintained as granted. This patent covers one of the core proprietary technologies that Philochem uses to discover small molecule drugs.

The successful defence against the opposition and subsequent appeal was a significant victory for Philochem, enhancing the commercial value of their drug discovery programs. The outcome represented a significant boost to the commercial value of Philochem's drug discovery programs and a notable victory for a smaller drug discovery company against a much larger opponent.

This case demonstrates Mewburn Ellis’s ability to prepare robust patent applications cost-effectively for smaller clients and achieve valuable granted claims. Furthermore, it highlights our capability to defend those claims after grant during opposition proceedings and appeals, ensuring our clients' core technologies remain protected.