WATCH: Overcoming patent eligibility, patentability, and disclosure requirements in life sciences innovation

Rachel Elsby, Partner at Akin Gump, moderates a discussion with Mark Nickas, IP In-house counsel at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; Teofilo Javier, Senior Corporate Counsel at Bristol Myers Squibb; Kevin Yurkerwich, Senior IP Counsel at Novartis; and Nicole Clouse, Vice President and Head of Intellectual Property at Generate Biomedicines.The panel explores practical approaches to overcoming patent eligibility challenges under 35 U.S.C. § 101, comparing USPTO standards for demonstrating novelty and non-obviousness with those of the EPO. They delve into strategies for securing protection in crowded biotech landscapes, including the convergence of AI and medical devices.The discussion also addresses the evolving §112 landscape, assessing how recent case law impacts written description, enablement, and freedom-to-operate strategies, particularly concerning large molecule biologics.