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

Dr James Kinross on the future of microbiome research

Dr James Kinross on the future of microbiome research

by Eliot Ward

Forward speaks to Dr James Kinross about the latest themes in research, the insights from his academic career and his ‘bonkers’ secret to a healthy gut. Forward: features are independent pieces ...

What the EU’s New Genomic Techniques (NGT) Regulation Means for Plant Innovators

What the EU’s New Genomic Techniques (NGT) Regulation Means for Plant Innovators

by Louise Atkins

The European Parliament will cast its final vote on the EU’s new regulatory framework for plants developed using New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). This vote follows the provisional agreement reached ...

BioTryp’s radical new treatment for bacterial infection

BioTryp’s radical new treatment for bacterial infection

by Louise Atkins

Cambridge University spin-out BioTryp is developing inhibitors that disrupt a signalling mechanism of bacteria to prevent the formation of biofilms, thereby reducing infection. Forward: features are ...

We are a leading force in EPO oppositions

We are a leading force in EPO oppositions

by Alex Galbraith

When it comes to opposing or defending European patents, experience matters. A look at our track record across both offensive and defensive oppositions over the last 12 years highlights not only the ...

UPC Weekly - Three darts all miss – PI based on three patents refused due to validity concerns and insufficient proof of infringement

UPC Weekly - Three darts all miss – PI based on three patents refused due to validity concerns and insufficient proof of infringement

by Eliot Ward

2026 Week 5 For good or bad, it is now clear that inter partes preliminary injunction (PI) proceedings at the UPC end up being mini-trials of the substantive issues. In Guardant Health v. Sophia ...

Round up of recent EPO Board of Appeal decisions relating to antibodies

Round up of recent EPO Board of Appeal decisions relating to antibodies

by Joanna Cripps

We have carried out our annual review of EPO Board of Appeal decisions published up to the end of 2025 where the claimed subject matter relates to antibodies. We have selected those decisions that ...

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