Nucleic Acid

Therapeutics

We work with companies and research institutions around the world to protect innovation in nucleic acid-based therapeutics, both in the field of gene therapy and more broadly.

We have worked with clients in the gene therapy space to protect approaches to correction of genetic abnormality, e.g. as exemplified by exon skipping technology for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. We have also been at the forefront of IP for targeted gene editing, as exemplified by CRISPR techniques. We also work with a number of clients to protect nucleic acid-based technologies aimed at the downregulation of expression of genetic information. Often exemplified by the concept of antisense sequences, this area is complex and comes in different forms, such as RISC-mediated gene silencing represented by RNAi or RNase H mediated gene silencing represented by gapmers. Advances in sequencing have also opened up the field of potential targets. For example, RNASeq and similar techniques have revealed the transcriptome of long non-coding RNAs that may influence expression of associated genes, and we have been involved in seeking broad platform level protection in this area.

We are also active in helping our clients protect viral vectors and RNA vaccines, which are clearly important and topical in view of the therapies approved to protect against COVID-19.

The development of SELEX revealed a different application of nucleic acids through the identification of aptamers. Typically short in length, these nucleic acids are selected for their high affinity binding to a chosen target and provide an alternative to monoclonal antibodies. Mewburn Ellis were the lead European patent attorneys involved in obtaining protection for this important class of molecule.

Alongside these approaches, developments in nucleotide chemistry, conjugation and encapsulation have helped address problems of delivery to target cells and extension of in vivo half-life, and we help clients to obtain important protection in these areas.

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Opposition Trends in the Life Sciences Sector

Special Report

In spring 2019, Mewburn Ellis 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 life sciences 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.

 

Download the Report

Read our blogs

UPC Weekly - Very appealing – preliminary injunction overturned

UPC Weekly - Very appealing – preliminary injunction overturned

by Matthew Naylor

2024 Week 49 SharkNinja have managed to persuade the UPC Court of Appeal to overturn a preliminary injunction awarded to Dyson. We investigate what made the difference in the appeal and consider what ...

UPC Weekly - Front-loading and obviousness at the UPC

UPC Weekly - Front-loading and obviousness at the UPC

by Matthew Naylor

2024 Week 48 In NJOY v VMR, the UPC Central Division Paris revoked VMR’s patent EP 3456214 B2 on 27 November 2024. The patent was held to be obvious, despite being maintained in amended form by the ...

UPC Weekly - UPC finds infringement using a doctrine of equivalents

UPC Weekly - UPC finds infringement using a doctrine of equivalents

by Matthew Naylor

2024 Week 47 Back in June 2024 (UPC Weekly 2024 week 23), we set out a few “known unknowns” – important developments in UPC case law that we expected to come in due course. New UPC decision Plant-e v ...

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Resistance is futile – how new tech tackles AMR

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UPC Weekly - UPC dials up the advantages for patentees

UPC Weekly - UPC dials up the advantages for patentees

by Matthew Naylor

2024 Week 46 We report this week on two new UPC decisions that make the UPC an even more attractive choice for patent holders seeking to enforce their European patents. The headlines are that: (i) ...

Cambiotics: a novel treatment for PFAS ‘forever chemicals’

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by Eliot Ward

PFAS are toxic pollutants causing health problems globally. There is currently no treatment. Now a Danish startup is producing a probiotic, which it claims, flushes out the toxins via natural ...

Forward Magazines Overlapping 6-compressed

Mewburn Ellis

FORWARD MAGAZINE

Mewburn Ellis Forward is a biannual publication that celebrates the best of innovation and exploration. Through its pages we hope to inform and entertain, but also to encourage discussion about the most compelling developments taking place in the scientific and entrepreneurial world. Along the way, we’ll engage with the IP challenges that international organisations face every day.