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.

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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

The UPC going into 2026 – three key takeaways

The UPC going into 2026 – three key takeaways

by Matthew Naylor

2026 Week 1 2025 was a seriously busy year for the UPC. We came into the year with one case management system and we left it with a shiny new one. We go into 2026 with a new court fee schedule. In ...

Careful with that saisie application

Careful with that saisie application

by Matthew Naylor

2025 Week 52 They can be conveniently bundled together informally as “provisional measures” at the UPC. But orders for preserving evidence (saisie orders) and preliminary injunctions are different in ...

When success does not mean survival – Generics knock out Sanofi’s cancer drug patent at the UPC

When success does not mean survival – Generics knock out Sanofi’s cancer drug patent at the UPC

by Julie Carlisle

2025 Week 51 Generic pharmaceutical companies scored their first big win at the UPC last week, with the Munich Local Division (LD) revoking Sanofi’s patent EP 2493466 B1 for a medical use of the ...

The Vaginal Microbiome – the hidden key to success in IVF?

The Vaginal Microbiome – the hidden key to success in IVF?

by Natalie Vaughan

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) as the names suggests, is a fertility treatment where an egg is fertilised by a sperm outside of the body. For many couples diagnosed with infertility, IVF offers hope of ...

30 months in – UPC case load, locations and languages

30 months in – UPC case load, locations and languages

by Matthew Naylor

2025 Week 50 A niche skill of patent attorneys is to be able to think in blocks of 30 months. The UPC opened its doors for business on 1 June 2023 and the 30 month milestone duly rolled around at the ...

UPC first instance decisions on inventive step after Court of Appeal guidance

UPC first instance decisions on inventive step after Court of Appeal guidance

by Matthew Naylor

2025 Week 49 Last week, we reported on the landmark Amgen v. Sanofi / Regeneron and Edwards v. Meril 25 November 2025 decisions from the UPC Court of Appeal (CoA), which together set out the ...

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Forward Magazines Overlapping 8

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.