Industrial &

Agricultural Biotech

Food security and sustainability of resources are concerns that are rarely far from the headlines. While solutions to these challenges must be multi-disciplinary, industrial and agricultural biotechnology has already been used to transform efficiency across a wide variety of industrial process and offers huge potential to do more.

Industrial enzymes are used in myriad industrial processes, with novel enzymes and novel applications continuing to be found. Our IP experts have a long history of involvement in protein engineering and industrial enzyme technology, including extensive offensive and defensive opposition work at the European Patent Office. The team also has particular experience in industrial microbiology, biofuel production and biosourced polymers, working alongside our chemists.

Gene editing technologies such as CRISPR are beginning to radically alter the field of functional genomics and the engineering of industrial microbes and crops.  We are proud to have been at the forefront of developments in this area, having worked with innovators of the CRISP-Cas9 technology, as well as those using it to develop new commercial products.

In the area of plant bioscience, the political interest in food production has introduced regulatory and legal complexities. Our specialised and expert plant bioscience team understand the toolkit of approaches which can be used to protect innovation in this area and the need for a flexible approach which can adapt to the shifting landscape. As well as patents and trade marks, we can offer advice and assistance in obtaining Plant Variety Rights (PVRs) and National Listings in both the UK and Europe.

Read more about protecting your innovations

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Enzyme engineering & industrial fermentation

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Future & functional foods

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Microbiome

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Special Report

Opposition Trends in the Life Sciences Sector

We published this report to help tackle the key questions our clients ask regularly. In spring 2019, we undertook 350 hours of research, analysing more than 5,000 opposition cases filed at the European Patent Office over the last ten years, studying the timelines for hundreds of oppositions both before and after the EPO’s opposition streamlining initiative.

View the 2020 addendum for this report, based on information as it appeared on the EPO Register on 10 January 2021 and from bulk data sets extracted on this date.

Read our latest blogs

Cell-free systems and the next wave of biomanufacturing IP

Cell-free systems and the next wave of biomanufacturing IP

by Kate Fitzpatrick

Biomanufacturing is undergoing a structural shift. For decades, engineered cells have been the dominant production platforms, but a new paradigm is emerging: cell free systems.

Dr Tim Lu: “We can programme computers. Why can't we do that in biology?”

Dr Tim Lu: “We can programme computers. Why can't we do that in biology?”

by Richard Clegg

Dr Tim Lu is a pioneer in synthetic biology. He and his team are editing immune cells to upgrade the way they detect disease. His method introduces computer logic gate thinking, where cells ...

The Microbiome in Metabolic Health: more than a gut feeling?

The Microbiome in Metabolic Health: more than a gut feeling?

by Annabel Cardno

Metabolic health has traditionally been viewed through the lens of the host: diet, exercise, genetics, hormones and, more recently, pharmacological intervention. However, over the last decade, it has ...

We work at every stage of the IP lifecycle

Protect

Drafting, Filing & Prosecution
Portfolio Management
Searching & Watching
Renewals & EP Validations

Defend

Pre-action Advice
Oppositions & Appeals
Litigation
Alternative Dispute Resolution

Exploit

Strategic Advice
Commercial Issues
Transactions
Corporate Support

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