Biopharmaceuticals

The future of medicine is increasingly biological, personalised, and precise. Across fields such as cell and gene therapy, protein and nucleic acid drugs, and genomic medicine, companies are developing targeted, often curative treatments that redefine what’s possible in healthcare. At HGF, we work alongside these innovators to build robust IP strategies that protect cutting-edge technology and support commercial success in a competitive, highly regulated environment.c bv

Our Biotherapeutics team brings together deep experience across interrelated but technically distinct specialisms, including gene editing, personalised medicine, antibody and biologic therapeutics, nucleic acid therapeutics and advanced cell and gene therapies. We understand the legal and scientific nuances of each specialism, from evolving case law around diagnostics to the challenges of patenting functionally defined antibodies or CRISPR-based technologies.

The regulatory and IP landscapes in these sectors are constantly changing, with differences between EPO and USPTO approaches to novelty, written description and patentable subject-matter significantly affecting how claims are drafted, prosecuted, and enforced. Our attorneys work globally and collaboratively to ensure our clients’ portfolios reflect both the latest developments and long-term strategic goals.

Whether supporting spin-outs, universities, biotech, or multinational pharmaceutical companies, we combine legal accuracy with first-hand knowledge of R&D pipelines, due diligence, and licensing in this space.

Latest updates

The Antibody Series #5 | Epitope-defined antibody claims: when “binds to this epitope” becomes a risk of insufficiency

The Boards of Appeal of the EPO (BoA) are the appeal body that reviews decisions made at the EPO; here, they reviewed an appeal in opposition proceedings after the revocation …

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The Antibody Series #4 | pH points in antibody claims: when “same pH ” becomes an addition of matter

The Boards of Appeal of the EPO (BoA) are the appeal body that reviews EPO decisions; in this case, they reviewed a revocation in opposition of a patent relating to …

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Agritech Thymes: The Bite of Implied Consent: Lessons from the Pink Lady Case

Can the supply of a plant variety without clear and defined restrictions on its use be an implicit consent to commercialise it? This case centres on the evidence required to …

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The Bite of Implied Consent: Lessons from the Pink Lady Case

A recent European Union court decision considers the issue of implied consent to commercialise a plant variety, and whether the evidence meets the threshold of “serious doubts” of the validity …

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How France's investment in digital health, AI, and bioinformatics is transforming the intellectual property (IP) landscape

In recent years, France has become a key player in digital health innovation, driven by strategic government investments under the France 2030 initiative and the French Tech 2030 program. These …

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Agritech Thymes: A review of protection for gene edited plants

As we head into a new season, it’s a good time to revisit the current status of protection for Essentially Derived Varieties (EDVs) and plants derived from New Genomic Techniques …

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Agritech Thymes: Agritech 2030: Forecasting the Technologies Poised to Transform Farming

Whilst yet to recover to the levels of 2011-2021, where capital invested in agritech increased 20-fold, investor funding in agritech is starting to pick up, and 2025 is set to …

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The Strawberry Patent Battle: Seeds, Speculation, and Jurisdiction

  This case, relating to infringement of a US plant patent, deals with the evidentiary burden required to show infringement of a plant patent in the US, as well as …

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Let's talk

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