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

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 ...

UPC Weekly - Court of Appeal settles the UPC framework for inventive step

UPC Weekly - Court of Appeal settles the UPC framework for inventive step

by Matthew Naylor

2025 Week 48 If you only read one UPC decision this year, read one of these. You can take your pick, based on technical background. Amgen v. Sanofi / Regeneron is in the field of antibodies for ...

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.