Europe: Food, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences

Technology aimed at improving independence following spinal cord injury continues to develop, from mobility equipment already on the market to implantable devices that are still at an early stage of research. This article examines three different technologies and considers how developments such as these could shape the lives of people living with SCI, as well as what they might mean for future claims.

Au cours des deux dernières décennies, le secteur de la santé a connu des évolutions technologiques significatives.

Over the past two decades, the health sector has undergone significant technological developments. The ubiquity of digital devices in our daily lives, combined with the ongoing democratization of developments in artificial intelligence (AI), has opened the door to new possibilities.

A leading industrial disease lawyer has issued an urgent warning after discovering dangerous asbestos-containing building materials being advertised on social media platforms like Facebook Marketplace. With mesothelioma claiming over 2,000 lives annually in the UK, the illegal trade of these toxic materials poses a serious health risk to unsuspecting DIY enthusiasts seeking bargain renovation supplies.

Technology aimed at improving independence following spinal cord injury continues to develop, from mobility equipment already on the market to implantable devices that are still at an early stage of research. This article examines three different technologies and considers how developments such as these could shape the lives of people living with SCI, as well as what they might mean for future claims.

Antonia and Jonny Philp transformed a painful personal experience into a purpose-driven skincare company that supports healthcare professionals facing the same challenges. Through their innovative business model, they've delivered hundreds of thousands of months of free hand care to NHS workers while building a family and a brand with genuine impact.

Nomio, a broccoli-based sports supplement gaining popularity among endurance athletes, has secured patent protection for its innovative use of sulforaphane to enhance exercise performance and treat metabolic conditions. This analysis explores how the company leveraged university research to protect both therapeutic and non-therapeutic applications of their simple three-ingredient formula, demonstrating that even products with common ingredients can achieve robust patent protection through novel use claims.

The UK Patents Court has upheld Novartis' patent and SPC protecting Entresto, its blockbuster heart failure treatment combining valsartan and sacubitril, rejecting all validity challenges from generic manufacturer Accord Healthcare. The judgment provides crucial guidance on plausibility requirements where experimental data have been generated but not fully disclosed in the patent specification, clarifying when qualitative disclosure of positive results suffices without detailed numerical data.

Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly turning to drug repurposing to accelerate development timelines and reduce risk, identifying new therapeutic applications for known compounds. This strategy offers significant clinical and commercial advantages, from faster patient access to extended product lifecycles, but raises complex questions about intellectual property protection and regulatory exclusivity. The article examines how second medical use patents and strategic IP planning enable innovators to secu