Ekaterina Prokoshev/ Shutterstock.com
Big Pharma is looking for solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic wherever it can find them, so drug repurposing is more important than ever, as research lawyers Jakob Wested and John Liddicoat argue.
The repurposing of drugs that have been approved for treating other viruses has gained unprecedented media attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lawyers persistently criticise second medical use patent claims as pointless, yet pharmaceutical companies continue to obtain and litigate them. Second medical use patents are probably valuable only occasionally and if standing alone, they are an unstable foundation for a business model.
The EU regulatory system provides incentives for repurposing. When a drug is authorised for the first time, the authorisation holder receives eight years of data exclusivity that runs concurrently with ten years of market protection. These two exclusivities are often summarised as 8+2, with the 2 referring to the two years remaining of market protection (after the expiry of data protection).
There’s a specific incentive for companies to repurpose drugs: market protection will be extended to 11 years if, within eight years of authorisation, the drug is repurposed to treat a new indication that brings a significant clinical benefit compared to existing therapies.
Start a subscription today to access the LSIPR website.
To access the full archive, digital magazines and special reports you will need to take out a paid subscription.
If you have already subscribed please login.
If you have any technical issues please email tech support.
For access to the complete website, archive, and to receive print publications, choose '12 MONTH SUBSCRIPTION'. For a free, two-week trial with full access, select ‘TWO WEEK FREE TRIAL’.
repurposing, drug, drugs, companies, COVID-19, incentives,Jakob Wested, John Liddicoat,, pharma, Epogen, Procrit, University of Cambridge
