Bioinformatics and Digital Health including AI

Developments in bioinformatics, and in particular AI, are fuelling important advances in the biotech and digital health space. The wealth of genetic and other information that can now be gleaned from experiments combined with the increasing power of AI underpins many commercially important digital health inventions. These important bioinformatics advances, for example, in AI-based cancer diagnosis or in silico drug design, can be patent protected to provide commercially useful protection to maintain your business’ position at the forefront.

HGF works on these advances for our clients which include global corporations, including pharma, SMEs, and prestigious universities. We advise on patent protection and trade secret protection, developing an IP strategy that provides the best protection for their bioinformatics and AI inventions.

We have worked on, for example, next generation sequencing analyses; AI-based cancer diagnostics (based on images or sequencing data); AI 3D structure analysis; small molecule in silico drug design; microbiome sequencing; AI-based patient groupings for personalized medicine; AI microbe detection and AI-based immunotherapy drug design.

Bioinformatics and AI inventions like these require a depth of experience in the crossover area between life sciences, electronics, and maths. Because of this, we have built a dedicated team of attorneys who have experience in this crossover area: life sciences attorneys with computational biology and AI backgrounds; as well as electronics attorneys and mathematics attorneys with further degrees or patent experience in life sciences.  The members of our team have drafted and successfully prosecuted bioinformatics and AI applications; defended key bioinformatics patents in opposition; and provided FTO analyses.

Trade secret protection is also key to digital health due to the wealth of value in the databases typical of AI inventions. Our team therefore also includes IP solicitors who, alongside our experienced attorneys, can put trade secret protection in place.

Latest updates

Agritech Thymes: The EPO Looks at the Morality and Patentability of Therapeutics Derived from Traditional Knowledge

This case (T2510/181) heard before the Technical Boards of Appeal at the EPO in May 2024 relates to the morality and novelty of substances of a natural origin. The invention …

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Agritech Thymes: Exploring the Agritech IP landscape – past trends and future insights

The agrifood patent landscape analysis recently reported by WIPO provides interesting insights into key areas of innovation and the IP strategies being adopted. The agrifood industry, encompassing both agritech and …

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Agritech Thymes: One of Europe’s oldest grape plant variety rights is invalidated

The Italian courts recently heard a case of infringement of a Plant Variety Right (PVR) held by Sun World International LLC protecting the Sugraone grape variety and of the corresponding …

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New Blog Series - Agritech Thymes: A brief look at public prior use of plants in the US

In the US, plants can be protected by utility patents, plant patents and/or plant variety rights. Both types of patent are subject to the same novelty rules of USC §102, …

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What's Next for CAR Cell Therapy?

The first generation CAR T cell was discovered in 1993 when the variable region of an antibody was fused to the constant regions of a T cell receptor.  Now, 20 …

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Event - 30th January 2024

CAR-TCR Summit, Europe 2024

HGF are proud Event Partners of CAR-TCR Europe, which is due to go ahead from 27th – 29th February at ExCeL, Royal Victoria Dock in London. This is the European hub …

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First CRISPR therapy approved for use in the UK

In an unprecedented move, the MHRA has approved a CRISPR gene editing therapy ‘Casgevy’  for the treatment of sickle cell disease and beta-thalassaemia in patients with recurrent vaso-occlusive crises. The Casgevy …

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Event - 23rd - 24th April 2024

Microbiome & Probiotic R&D & Business Collaboration Forum: Europe

The 12th Microbiome & Probiotics R&D and Business Forum will take place from the 23rd-24th April at the Postillion Convention Centre in the Hague, Netherlands. This world-renowned event will see …

Event details

Let's talk

If you would like to discuss how HGF could help you, contact one of our bioinformatics specialists.