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Sector » Pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceuticals

Areas of focus:

    Drug delivery
    Generic market entry
    Medicinal chemistry
    Methods of production and synthesis
    Personalised medicine/disease biomarkers
    Pharmaceutical formulations
    Polymorphs
    Small molecule pharmaceuticals
    Supplementary protection certificates (SPCs)

The pharmaceuticals sector presents a host of opportunities and challenges in the patent field. From new chemical entities to formulations, synthesis and personalised approaches to treatment, there are a multitude of considerations for any product. 

Understanding the patent landscape around any product, including Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs), loss of exclusivity and portfolio development opportunities are key strategic considerations for our clients. These areas and the pharmaceuticals sector more generally, continue to drive developments in patent law, a sign of the commercial significance of this field. 

The pharmaceuticals team
The team at Boult undertakes the full spectrum of patent work across the pharma sector, from drafting and filing new patent applications through to the management of global patent portfolios. We assist with patent landscaping and freedom to operate (FTO) projects as well as offering advice on infringement and due diligence matters. We are experienced in handling SPCs, particularly consideration of SPC strategy and placement. 

Our team has strong academic backgrounds in fields such as organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, biochemistry and immunology. The result of this is technical expertise means we assist clients across the whole pharma sector.

“Working closely with our clients’ development teams allows us real insight into the goals for each program we are involved with. As a result, we are well-placed to help clients achieve these objectives as well as gaining a strong patent position, both in terms of their own IP portfolio and also in relation to third parties.” 

Dr Edward Ronan
PARTNER
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Case study: MC2 Therapeutics

MC2 Therapeutics is a commercial stage pharmaceutical company committed to research in skin biology and development of novel treatment paradigms for people with autoimmune and chronic inflammatory skin conditions. It received its first marketing authorisation in 2020 for Wynzora Cream®, a topical treatment for plaque psoriasis in adults, and have various other products in the pipeline for treating different skin conditions.

Boult has worked with MC2 Therapeutics for many years. We’ve drafted and prosecuted patent applications for MC2 since the early days, providing valuable protection for inventions ranging from key platform formulation technology to exciting clinical applications. We’ve always enjoyed working closely with inventors at MC2 Therapeutics to identify patentable inventions and navigate together the challenges that inevitably come with a large international filing programme.

It’s been a privilege for us to see MC2 Therapeutics grow as a business over the years and to work together to develop the strong patent portfolio it has today, and we’re excited to see what the future holds.

Morten Præstegaard, Chief Operating Officer at MC2 Therapeutics, said: “MC2 Therapeutics has benefitted hugely from its relationship with Boult over the years. We have grown from a small company with a basic understanding of IP to a significant commercial stage pharmaceutical company with a strong patent portfolio, and this would not have been possible without Boult’s support. Boult has been with us from the beginning, and we see them as not just a contractor, but an active partner to our success.

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The pharmaceuticals sector presents a host of opportunities and challenges in the patent field. From new chemical entities to formulations, synthesis and personalised approaches to treatment, there are a multitude of considerations for any product. 

Understanding the patent landscape around any product, including Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs), loss of exclusivity and portfolio development opportunities are key strategic considerations for our clients. These areas and the pharmaceuticals sector more generally, continue to drive developments in patent law, a sign of the commercial significance of this field. 

The pharmaceuticals team
The team at Boult undertakes the full spectrum of patent work across the pharma sector, from drafting and filing new patent applications through to the management of global patent portfolios. We assist with patent landscaping and freedom to operate (FTO) projects as well as offering advice on infringement and due diligence matters. We are experienced in handling SPCs, particularly consideration of SPC strategy and placement. 

Our team has strong academic backgrounds in fields such as organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, biochemistry and immunology. The result of this is technical expertise means we assist clients across the whole pharma sector.

What sets us apart
We have repeated success in guiding clients through the patent process from early stage drug discovery, through to candidate and lead nomination, formulation and clinical development.

Pharmaceuticals continues to inform the development of patent law. This continually changing legal landscape brings opportunities as well as risks to developing the strongest possible patent portfolios, and we have the skills and expertise to assist our clients to achieving this goal.

Recent highlights

  • Advising a company with extensive experience in the discovery and development of small molecule and protein therapeutics. We are proud to have worked with this long standing client to build patent portfolios across a range of successful programs, many of which have gone on to partnership and clinical development. 

Pharmaceuticals team

Partners

Adrian Hayes
Partner Reading
Dr James Legg
Partner Cambridge
Edward Morse
Partner London
Dr Joanna Peak
Partner London
Daryl Penny
Partner Reading
Dr Michelle Pratt
Partner London
Dr Barbara Rigby
Partner Cambridge
Dr Edward Ronan
Partner London
Marcus Sims
Partner London
Matthew Spencer
Partner Cambridge
Dr Naomi Stevens
Partner Cambridge
Dr Nina White
Partner London

Senior associates

Attorneys

Dr Olga Bohuszewicz
Patent Attorney Cambridge
Thomas Davis
Patent Attorney London
Christopher Jones
Patent Attorney London
Dr Farzana Miah
Senior Associate London
Olivia Murray
Patent Attorney London
Angela Stephen
Patent Attorney London
Alex Stephenson
Patent Attorney London

Assistants and trainees

Claudia Bustamante
Patent Assistant London
Emilia Davies
Patent Assistant Cambridge
Rosie Murray
Patent Assistant Cambridge
Dr Jasmine Wyatt
Patent Assistant London