Writing this year’s overview prompted déjà vu and a quick check of 2024’s most opposed patents confirmed that the same innovators feature at the top of the list: patents in the name of Novartis (for Entresto®) and Boehringer Ingelheim (for Jardiance®) received more EPO oppositions in 2025 than any others.
Patents for therapeutics consistently dominate this annual list, as do several therapeutic themes. As well as cardiovascular health and diabetes (as reflected by the top two positions) we see several patents related to autoimmunity and to lipid nanoparticles. Several patents in this list are directed to treatment of autoimmune conditions, which include multiple sclerosis (Roche’s EP3359572 for Ocrevus®), ulcerative colitis (Millenium’s EP3329965 for Entyvio®) and psoriasis (Novartis’ EP3487881 for Cosentyx®). Arena’s EP3801459 also relates to a variety of autoimmune conditions. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) form the basis of many gene therapies and vaccines, and LNPs – and their various ingredients – are the subject of patents in the names of Acuitas (EP4013385) and Moderna (EP3853305).
Patents for innovative foods and agri-biotech often crop up on this annual list. This year we have Oatly’s EP4291042 for diary-free milk, and Voyage Foods’ EP4255208 for cocoa-free chocolate (chocolate production being a particularly IP-rich field, as discussed here). Patents for agricultural biotechnology were also highly opposed, including a method for producing a low carbon intensity biofuel (Nuseed’s EP3681266) and tomato plants with virus resistance (Vilmorin & Cie’s EP3629711).
On closer inspection of the case files, we noticed a very wide age range for the listed patents. For example Otsuka’s EP4125903 (aripiprazole, an anti-psychotic) was filed in 2021, whereas Novartis’ EP3090730 (Revolade, for increasing platelets) was filed back in 2007. The fourteen-year age difference might, in part, be explained by the large number of third party observations filed against the Revolade patent, since just one set of third party observations can delay grant.
As ever, Mewburn Ellis LLP acts on many of the cases in this list – on behalf of patent proprietors and opponents. If you would like advice on an EPO opposition matter please do get in touch with one of our teams from Life Sciences, Chemistry, or Engineering & ICT to start a conversation.
For details of each patent in the chart, including the patent number, title, and the names of the opposing parties just click on the bar. In the chart, bars for pharma / life science patents are in shades of grey, and for all other sectors the bars are in bright colour. The Patent Category drop down box can be used to filter results by sector.
Just CLICK on the bar for details of the patent.
