Sequencing

& Bioanalytics

Genetic sequencing technology has been revolutionised over the last two decades, firstly with the development of ‘next generation sequencing’ and then with third generation sequencing. The former recombines genomic fragments that are sequenced in parallel and the latter has allowed read-lengths to increase while reducing the size of the sequencing machines.

These technologies have made whole genome or exome sequencing fast and relatively inexpensive (currently in the order of $1000 for a whole human genome). This opens vast opportunities in the field of healthcare and beyond, making personalised medicine therapies possible.

Mewburn Ellis has supported the industry throughout each phase of its development. We have helped our clients to protect modified polymerases with improved accuracy and nanopore based single molecule sequencing methods, to name but two examples.

We also have considerable experience of providing IP protection for core platforms in other bioanalytic techniques, as well as their innovative applications in research, agriculture and medicine. This includes drafting, portfolio building and contentious work for the leading companies in the development of nucleic acid amplification, microarray technologies, and microfluidic "lab-on-a-chip" devices. Many of our experienced patent attorneys have laboratory experience in this area and are supported by talented new recruits with up-to-date practical expertise.

Patent_Landscape_in_Bioinformatics_and_Digital_Health_Special_Report_2021-2-Compressed

Patent Landscape in Bioinformatics and Digital Health: a data-driven analysis

Special Report

The words "digital health", "data driven" and "AI" have been on everyone's lips and in many headlines in the healthcare and life sciences sectors over the last couple of years. However, navigating this rapidly changing landscape can be challenging for those in charge of managing the IP associated with the innovations underpinning these changes.  

In this Special Report, we set out to collect data on the patent landscape in the fields of bioinformatics and digital health, to see whether the growth we and our clients see in the field is reflected in the data and whether insights can be gained from the data that will assist in designing better, more informed IP strategies.

 

Read our blogs

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 ...

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 ...

ME Forward Masthead White 2