Protein

Therapeutics

We have extensive experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications in the field of engineered peptide therapeutics, gaining insight into the different challenges that working in this area raises as compared to patenting antibody or polypeptide therapeutics. Our experience includes work on portfolios covering approved and candidate peptide therapeutics, such as Lixisenatide, Danegaptide, Glepaglutide and Dasiglucagon.

Many of these challenges revolve around the evolution of an initial wild-type peptide to become a candidate peptide therapeutic, modifying or truncating the wild-type peptide and often incorporating other types of derivatisation and cyclisation to optimise the properties of the therapeutic molecule. This work requires an understanding of underlying biochemistry and chemistry of the molecules.

In addition, the team at Mewburn Ellis working in this area have extensive experience of freedom-to-operate analysis, EPO opposition and appeals and other strategies to manage the competitive landscape, while maximising the protection of the products of the applicants we represent.

opps-report-1-1-1-1

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

Meet the Estrobolome: The Gut Microbiome's Hidden Role in Hormone Regulation

Meet the Estrobolome: The Gut Microbiome's Hidden Role in Hormone Regulation

by Sarah Harvey

Much of the discussion around the gut microbiome focuses on digestion, inflammation or related areas such as metabolic health. However, the relationship between the gut microbiome and hormones is not ...

Beyond the Dressing: Where Advanced Wound Care Is Heading

Beyond the Dressing: Where Advanced Wound Care Is Heading

by Chloe Flower

Chronic wounds remain a significant clinical and economic challenge. But the most interesting change in wound care is not simply the development of better dressings. It is the sector’s transition ...

Iberdomide's FDA approval: a milestone for molecular glues, CELMoDs and targeted protein degradation

Iberdomide's FDA approval: a milestone for molecular glues, CELMoDs and targeted protein degradation

by Annabel Cardno

Over the last few years, targeted protein degradation (TPD) has evolved into one of the most active fields of drug discovery and biotechnology. Much of the recent attention has focused on emerging ...

UPC Weekly - The latest on preliminary injunctions at the UPC – Part 2

UPC Weekly - The latest on preliminary injunctions at the UPC – Part 2

by Aled Richards-Jones

UPC Weekly brings you timely, thoughtful and joined-up insight into the evolving landscape of patent litigation at the Unified Patent Court. 2026 Week 38 This is Part 2 of our survey of recent PI ...

UPC Weekly - The latest on preliminary injunctions at the UPC – Part 1

UPC Weekly - The latest on preliminary injunctions at the UPC – Part 1

by Aled Richards-Jones

UPC Weekly brings you timely, thoughtful and joined-up insight into the evolving landscape of patent litigation at the Unified Patent Court. 2026 Week 37 Since our last UPC Weekly instalment on ...

Singapore's Synthetic Biology Moment: Building a Global Translation Hub

Singapore's Synthetic Biology Moment: Building a Global Translation Hub

by Thomas Driver

Synthetic biology has become one of the most exciting technology sectors of the past decade. Advances in gene editing, enzyme engineering, AI-guided protein design and industrial biomanufacturing are ...

Learn More
ME Forward Masthead White 2