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

UPC Weekly - Doctrine of equivalence gets another airing at the UPC

UPC Weekly - Doctrine of equivalence gets another airing at the UPC

by Matthew Naylor

2025 Week 37 Various divisions of the UPC have been notably reluctant to set out their vision for a structured test for how infringement by equivalence should be assessed. Except the Local Division ...

Most Active Defendants in EPO Oppositions – 2024

Most Active Defendants in EPO Oppositions – 2024

by Katherine Green

Each year the European Patent Office (EPO) grants about 100,000 patents. Of these about 2-3% are opposed – meaning that a third party has formally filed a request that the EPO revoke the patent. This ...

Patent Strategies for Cell-based Therapeutics

Patent Strategies for Cell-based Therapeutics

by Nick Sutcliffe

Securing robust patent protection for cell-based therapeutics presents unique challenges, particularly before the European Patent Office (EPO). As the field of regenerative medicine and cell therapy ...

Mitochondria: the secret to regenerating human tissue?

Mitochondria: the secret to regenerating human tissue?

by Eliot Ward

Istesso co-founder Lisa Patel is researching how to regenerate and repair tissue by modulating mitochondria. The method has the potential to treat multiple diseases of ageing, such as arthritis, ...

Bispecific antibodies: A new way to combat drug resistance

Bispecific antibodies: A new way to combat drug resistance

by Tanis Keirstead

Biotech veteran Dr Rob Arathoon is pioneering a new way to counteract multi-drug resistance in cancer using bispecific antibodies. He explains his work.

Ozempic and the Anti-Ageing Opportunity

Ozempic and the Anti-Ageing Opportunity

by Katherine Collins

Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) best known by its brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, has already reshaped the treatment landscape for type 2 diabetes and obesity. However, compelling new ...

Learn More
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.