Request Trial
1 May 2011PharmaClaire Baldock

Windows of opportunity and closing doors at the EPO

The European Patent Office’s (EPO) approach to granting patents and how it goes about doing this have a large influence on the health of the pharmaceutical sector. The competitiveness and worth of innovative pharmaceuticals are linked to the strength of its patents.

Already registered?

Login to your account

To request a FREE 2-week trial subscription, please signup.
NOTE - this can take up to 48hrs to be approved.

Two Weeks Free Trial

For multi-user price options, or to check if your company has an existing subscription that we can add you to for FREE, please email Adrian Tapping at atapping@newtonmedia.co.uk


More on this story

Pharma
Lilly loses Fed Circ rehearing bid, sparking enablement questions
1 October 2026   The decision leaves a $177 million verdict against Lilly intact, but a dissenting judge has warned the ruling could “undermine medical innovation” by allowing overly broad patent claims to survive and provide a way around the Supreme Court’s Amgen decision.
Pharma
Takeda sees off UK challenge to Elvanse SPC
28 September 2026   Can a drug’s ‘inactive’ precursor qualify for a multi-million pound patent extension? The UK High Court has just delivered a ruling on Takeda's ADHD drug Elvanse, weighing regulatory precedent against a conflicting German decision.
Pharma
Mylan throws down new gauntlet in Novo Wegovy patent fight
25 September 2026   Another Wegovy patent has been drawn into the long-running dispute between Mylan and Novo Nordisk over proposed generic versions of the weight-loss drug.


Editor's picks

Inside the deal boom: LSIPR’s five-part M&A series—all in one place
Regulation & Industry
Inside the deal boom: LSIPR’s five-part M&A series—all in one place
17 September 2026

Editor's picks

Regulation & Industry
Inside the deal boom: LSIPR’s five-part M&A series—all in one place
17 September 2026
Biotech
Exelixis locks down cancer drug exclusivity until 2030 with Fed Circ win
1 September 2026
Regulation & Industry
The buyers' wishlist: What makes a life sciences deal stack up?
25 August 2026
MedTech
Abbott fends off Chinese rival’s patent challenge at UPC
18 August 2026
Regulation & Industry
Where Big Pharma is betting big in the M&A boom
29 July 2026
Regulation & Industry
Buying the brains: Why is Big Pharma shopping for innovation?
27 July 2026

More features

WATCH: Genevant IP director on tackling UPC-EPO opposition divide
5 LSPN takeaways: What’s keeping Europe’s IP teams on their toes?
Lilly loses Fed Circ rehearing bid, sparking enablement questions
Takeda sees off UK challenge to Elvanse SPC
Conley Rose welcomes back former employee with legal and business nous
Mylan throws down new gauntlet in Novo Wegovy patent fight
Novartis defeats Orange Book challenge but suffers EU setback
Behind the case: How Novartis defended its blockbuster Entresto in the UK