United Kingdom: Food, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences

This September edition examines pivotal developments in life sciences patent law across Europe, with the Unified Patent Court continuing to refine its jurisprudence on added matter, intermediary liability, and procedural standards. National courts in the UK, France, and the Netherlands deliver significant rulings on supplementary protection certificates, pro-drugs, and the boundaries of pharmacy exemptions that will shape patent strategy for pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

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.

This September edition examines pivotal developments in life sciences patent law across Europe, with the Unified Patent Court continuing to refine its jurisprudence on added matter, intermediary liability, and procedural standards. National courts in the UK, France, and the Netherlands deliver significant rulings on supplementary protection certificates, pro-drugs, and the boundaries of pharmacy exemptions that will shape patent strategy for pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

As humanity ventures beyond Earth, the challenge of sustaining life in space demands revolutionary approaches to food production. From radiation-resistant seed coatings to microgravity-adapted root systems, innovations in space agriculture are creating new frontiers for patent protection while simultaneously offering solutions to terrestrial farming challenges.

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.

Penningtons Manches Cooper's medical negligence team shares their experience supporting clients affected by cauda equina syndrome, highlighting how early intervention and holistic legal support can help rebuild lives following this rare spinal condition. Through case studies and practical examples, the firm demonstrates the transformative impact of securing timely compensation, rehabilitation access, and specialist equipment for CES survivors.

Sepsis Awareness Month brings significant developments in the fight against this life-threatening condition, including the extension of Martha's Rule to all hospital emergency departments by March 2028 and promising advances in rapid diagnostic testing. With sepsis affecting 245,000 people annually in the UK and contributing to 48,000 deaths, understanding the symptoms, treatment protocols, and legal implications of delayed diagnosis has never been more critical.

Recent research presented at the European Emergency Medicine Congress reveals a stark correlation between A&E overcrowding and patient mortality rates, with every 10% increase in occupancy linked...