Latest News & Features
Americas
The Indian Patent Office has rejected a patent application for an anti-cancer drug for the second time, paving the way for generic versions to potentially enter the market. 24 June 2014
Americas
Teva has reached a settlement in its patent battle with two pharmaceutical companies, ending all litigation over its ProAir HFA (albuterol sulfate) inhalation aerosol. 23 June 2014
Asia-Pacific
Amendments to SIPO’s guidelines for the examination of utility patents may help stop the proliferation of ‘junk’ utility models in China. Wolfgang Bublak and Yingkun Brunner report. 20 June 2014
Genetics
The realm of patent eligibility under 35 USC §101 has become more confusing, with the introduction of a possible new definition of admissibility after a decision on Dolly the sheep. Nabeela Rasheed reports. 20 June 2014
Big Pharma
Andrew Wright and Tom Harding investigate how a decision by the EPO’s Board of Appeal may extend the opportunities for protection by second medical use claims. 20 June 2014
Americas
Acting against infringers can involve the pharmaceutical regulatory framework and civil law as well as following the more usual pathways, says José R. Trigueros. 20 June 2014
Generics
There is no uniform interpretation of the scope of the Bolar exemption in Europe, but a CJEU opinion harmonising the issue may be on the way, says Rafal Witek. 20 June 2014
Biotechnology
Europe’s highest court has said that products used by agrochemical companies to help maintain plants can be given extended patent protection. 20 June 2014
Americas
Amended rules for food and drink packaging seek to ensure that people can easily identify the high calorific content of some of these products, as Daniel Sanchez and Victor Ramirez report. 20 June 2014
Americas
Obviousness-type double patenting is a serious consideration that patent owners should keep in mind during the examination of an application or in performing due diligence on a patent portfolio, says MaryAnne Armstrong. 20 June 2014