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

HGF Presents - Protecting Plant Innovation

In this video, we explore the statutory and regulatory barriers to the patentability of plant-related inventions in the US and Europe, before considering the landscapes further afield. Given the divergent …

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Event - 12th November 2026

HGF Partners with PPTI for 'Designing Foods for Healthy Aging' Webinar

As healthy aging, metabolic health and weight management rise up the consumer agenda, food and nutrition businesses are increasingly looking beyond traditional product development and towards solutions that deliver measurable …

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Event - 15th December 2026

Basel Seminar: Seminar on the new EU Pharma Package and its implications for regulatory exclusivities in the EU

Venue – Der Teufelhof Basel, Switzerland We are pleased to invite you to our seminar on the new EU Pharma Package and its implications for regulatory exclusivities in the EU. …

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Where Does the Real IP Value Lie in AI-Enabled Life Sciences?

After attending the BioTechX conference in Basel last week, talking to people working across pharma, biotech, AI, software, laboratory automation and data management, my main takeaway was clear: the conversation …

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When AI Designs the Ingredient: Who Controls the Data, the Model and the Discovery?

AI-enabled discovery has drawn significant attention in pharmaceutical R&D, but its impact is extending into other industries, across ingredients, food, flavour, fragrance and industrial biotechnology. As AI models advance, the …

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Protecting the AI Drug Discovery Ecosystem: Building an IP Stack Around Targets, Molecules and Medicines

Despite the considerable costs and effort in target identification, candidate generation, selection and advancement to clinical trials, 90% of candidates that enter clinical trials during drug discovery fail (Sun D, …

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Agritech Thymes: UK-EU SPS agreement – what does it mean for plant breeders?

Since Brexit, the UK agrifood sector has faced difficulties, largely due to the requirement for additional certifications and controls, such as phytosanitary certificates and border checks. This has had a …

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How Low Can You Go? T 0137/24, Percentage Sequence Identity Claims and Divergent EPO and USPTO Approaches

Key takeaways Increasing percentage sequence identity thresholds may be selected from a disclosed convergent list without adding matter, provided the amendment does not create a new technical combination; Broader percentage …

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Let's talk

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