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

UPC Weekly - The UPC view on the

UPC Weekly - The UPC view on the "divisionals game"

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 43 In its order of 22 October 2026 in Sandoz v. ...

Bench to Boardroom: Funding, IP and Value Creation in Biotech

Bench to Boardroom: Funding, IP and Value Creation in Biotech

by Adam Gregory

On Thursday 15 October 2026, we were delighted to host our panel discussion and networking event ‘Bench to Boardroom: Funding, IP and Value Creation in Biotech’.

UPC Weekly - New patient subgroups and a pragmatic approach at the UPC

UPC Weekly - New patient subgroups and a pragmatic approach at the UPC

by Eliot Ward

UPC Weekly brings you timely, thoughtful and joined-up insight into the evolving landscape of patent litigation at the Unified Patent Court. 2026 Week 42 This week, we discuss the Milan Central ...

Building Connections for the Future

Building Connections for the Future

by Jamie Emerick

On Wednesday 7 October 2026, we were delighted to welcome early-career professionals from across a range of industries and disciplines to our junior professionals networking evening in our London ...

UPC Weekly - Sniffing out infringement

UPC Weekly - Sniffing out infringement

by Matthew Naylor

UPC Weekly brings you timely, thoughtful and joined-up insight into the evolving landscape of patent litigation at the Unified Patent Court. 2026 Week 41 What does a patentee need to show to prove ...

UPC Weekly - About time

UPC Weekly - About time

by Matthew Naylor

UPC Weekly brings you timely, thoughtful and joined-up insight into the evolving landscape of patent litigation at the Unified Patent Court. 2026 Week 40 Time pressure is a constant factor in UPC ...

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