News

Understanding Failure: Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy for Drug Rescue Programmes

If an abandoned drug asset can be rescued, what exactly is being created, and how should intellectual property strategy support it?

Secerna Senior Associate Dr Huw Jenkins to Attend Multiple Events During Agri-Tech Week 2026

We are pleased to announce that Secerna Senior Associate, Dr Huw Jenkins, will be representing Secerna at a series of key industry events throughout Agri-Tech Week 2026.

Secerna Partner Charlotte Watkins Joins Dragon Panel at York Innovation Supper

Protecting Your Brand Online: Secerna’s Sam Turton Joins the Bring Your Product Idea to Life Podcast

Secerna's Chartered Trade Mark Attorney Sam Turton recently joined host Vicki Weinberg on the Bring Your Product Idea to Life podcast to tackle a critical challenge facing growing businesses: how to effectively protect a brand name when selling online.

Secerna Senior Associate Dr Huw Jenkins to attend BioYorkshire Bioeconomy Cluster Conference

Secerna LLP is pleased to announce that Senior Associate Dr Huw Jenkins will be attending the upcoming Bioeconomy Cluster Conference, organised by BioYorkshire, in York on Tuesday, 13 October 2026.

Early interpretation of G1/25 by the EPO Boards of Appeal suggests a softening of the EPO’s stance on description amendments

The Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO) recently issued its decision in G 1/25 (“Hydroponics”) relating to the circumstances in which claim amendments necessitate adaptation of the description. In their decision, the Enlarged Board concluded that adaptation of the description is necessitated only when an inconsistency between the claims and the description results in non-compliance with the requirements of the European Patent Convention (EPC).

VDPP v Volkswagen: Federal Circuit highlights the importance of licensee compliance with US patent marking requirements

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) recently issued a decision in VDPP, LLC v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., No. 2024-2226, affirming the dismissal of a patent infringement complaint because the patentee failed to plead that its licensees had complied with the patent marking statute, 35 U.S.C. § 287(a). This decision highlights that patent marking compliance is mandatory, even for licensees which are brought about through settlement agreements.

Timing Patent Filings for Maximum Impact in Drug Discovery

In the pharmaceutical sector, timing is everything, especially when it comes to patent filing. For startups, navigating the complex and high stakes world of drug discovery, knowing when to file a patent can be just as critical as knowing what to file. Poorly timed filings can undermine the strength, scope, and commercial value of a patent, potentially jeopardizing the startup’s competitive edge and investment potential.

Strengthening your intellectual property (IP) position ahead of investment

For many drug discovery startups, intellectual property (IP) is one of the company’s most important assets. Patents, know-how, data, and other forms of IP can support fundraising activities, attract strategic partners, and underpin future commercial growth. As companies progress towards investment, their IP position comes under increased scrutiny. Investors and their advisers may examine not only the IP assets held by the company, but also the extent to which those IP assets support the business’s products, technology and long-term objectives.