United Kingdom: Food, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences

The UK's long-awaited restrictions on advertising less healthy food and drink finally took effect in January 2025, but a parliamentary committee now argues they don't go far enough. Should advertising law expand to cover brand advertising, outdoor placements, and sports sponsorship, or should it also consider allowing responsible marketing of clinically proven weight-loss treatments?

The UK High Court has approved a groundbreaking dynamic blocking mechanism that allows pharmaceutical companies to block websites selling counterfeit medicines without requiring repeated court applications. This novel approach enables rights holders to self-certify breaches and directly instruct Internet Service Providers to block qualifying websites, marking a significant evolution in combating online pharmaceutical counterfeiting. The decision extends website blocking orders beyond traditional copyright e

The Advocate General has delivered a decisive opinion on whether a substance classified as an excipient in a marketing authorisation can be considered an active ingredient for Supplementary Protection Certificate eligibility purposes. This non-binding opinion addresses Halozyme's attempts to obtain SPC protection for a combination involving a substance designated as an excipient, with potentially far-reaching implications for pharmaceutical patent strategy and the relationship between regulatory classificat

The Cambridge life sciences cluster demonstrates remarkable resilience with a significant surge in equity fundraising during the first half of 2026. Investment activity has increased not only in total capital raised but also in the number of companies successfully securing funding, reflecting deep confidence in the region's innovation ecosystem. Infrastructure developments including expanded research hubs and improved transport connectivity signal a flourishing sector poised for continued growth.

From Victorian engineering to modern AI, explore how David Kirkaldy's 1865 Universal Testing Machine and his pioneering data-driven approach laid the groundwork for today's materials informatics revolution. Discover how patent protection has evolved to protect innovations in computational materials science and machine learning applications.

Quantum sensing technology is revolutionizing healthcare diagnostics and treatment, with innovations ranging from brain function assessment devices to cancer detection platforms. As the quantum industry transitions from concept to reality, patent protection and strategic intellectual property management are becoming crucial for companies developing these transformative medical technologies.

A Nottingham solicitor writes directly to the new Health Secretary calling for a judge-led statutory public inquiry into systemic maternity care failings across England, drawing on lessons from the Hillsborough Law and the findings of the Ockenden Review into Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

An elderly man caring for his seriously ill wife was accused of making threats to kill her in front of paramedics, leading to his arrest and separation from his spouse of over 40 years. Despite a previous similar incident, expert legal intervention successfully demonstrated that his words were born of desperation rather than genuine intent. Through strategic representations to the Crown Prosecution Service highlighting the exceptional circumstances, the case was ultimately dropped, allowing the devoted coup

The publication of Donna Ockenden's final report into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has brought to light systemic issues in communication, patient safety, and accountability that extend far beyond a single institution. With maternity claims representing 57% of new clinical negligence claims by value and costing the NHS £1.3 billion annually, the question arises: how can improved communication and mental health support during the perinatal period prevent both devastatin