Life Sciences

Life Sciences

Dark abstract geometric shapes creating a layered pattern with gradient shading.

Our patent attorneys, IP solicitors, and trade mark attorneys help protect and commercialise innovations across pharmaceuticals, biologics, and medtech. We secure value at every stage, from research and development through to market approval.

Life sciences innovation is advancing fast, from digital therapeutics and AI-based medicine to in vitro diagnostics and personalised care. These advances are helping improve patient care, support personalised treatments, and open up new commercial opportunities.

But long development timelines, regulatory burdens, and intense competition mean the risks are high. Without a strong intellectual property (IP) position, your innovation could face costly delays or barriers to market.

That's why life sciences businesses of all sizes, from start-ups to Big Pharma, choose Potter Clarkson. Our team understands how to secure and defend business-critical IP in a regulation-heavy sector, and how to align your IP strategy with your wider commercial goals.

Talk to us today about securing the value of your life sciences innovation.

Key Areas of Expertise

Biologics

Biologics are a fast-growing area of medicine, involving complex molecules such as monoclonal antibodies, therapeutic proteins, and biosimilars. IP plays a vital role in protecting these innovations as they move through development and into use. We help you secure strong, commercially valuable IP protection in this competitive space.

Medtech & Digital Therapeutics

We work across digital health and medtech to build strong IP strategies for rapidly evolving technologies. Our expertise covers AI-based medicine, digital therapeutics, medical imaging, in vitro diagnostics, surgical and clinical equipment, personalised care, and assisted living.

Learn more
Medtech & Digital Therapeutics

Pharmaceuticals

We work across all areas of pharmaceutical innovation, including drug discovery, new chemical and biological entities, small molecules, peptides, peptidomimetics, proteins, drug delivery, and repurposing. As one of the largest specialist teams in Europe, we provide clear, commercially focused advice on patent strategy, defence, enforcement, and contentious proceedings.

4 Reasons to Choose Potter Clarkson for Your Life Sciences IP

1. Sector-leading team

We’re one of Europe’s largest specialist IP teams for life sciences. Many of our attorneys hold PhDs in relevant scientific disciplines, and have worked both in-house and in private practice. This means we can anticipate and spot problems before they arise, and help you navigate a path to market.

2. Strategic perspective

We’ll guide you through the complexities of IP in this challenging, regulation-heavy sector, and help you develop a strategy that fits your business needs and commercial objectives.

By understanding your market, business plan, and wider goals, we’ll help you turn innovation into products and services that create maximum value.

3. Seamless multidisciplinary support

The integration between our attorneys and IP solicitors allows us to offer well-coordinated, multidisciplinary advice from a single source:

  • Our patent attorneys draft and prosecute patent applications, and defend or oppose patents.
  • Our specialist in-house IP solicitors negotiate and draft the agreements you need to develop, scale, and fully exploit your innovation.
  • Our trade mark attorneys protect and enforce your brand against competitor activity.
  • And in the event of enforcement, our IP solicitors can draw on deep experience of running technically difficult and procedurally complex cases to achieve the best possible outcome for clients.
  • Our team also includes experts who can provide the more specialist expertise you may need, including regulatory advice, trade secrets, SPCs, orphan drug designations, and digital innovation strategy.

4. Best-value IP products and processes

Built around the specific challenges faced by start-ups, SMEs, and investors, our innovative range of fixed-price IP solutions are designed to help you quickly and easily maximise the commercial value of your IP at each milestone, from initial funding to your chosen exit route.

How We Can Help

Our life sciences team is one of Europe's largest. Many of our specialists hold PhDs in relevant disciplines, combining technical knowledge with commercial expertise to help you identify potential issues early and find a clear route to market.

You also benefit from our in-house solicitors, who support a broad range of commercial legal requirements. They're involved from the earliest stages of deal-making through to drafting IP agreements, and enforcing your rights.

With all expertise under one roof, you gain time and cost efficiencies that are hard to match when working with multiple advisers across different organisations.

We can:

  • Advise you on the more specialist opportunities to build the value of your business, including Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs), orphan drug designation, regulatory matters, and digital innovation strategy.
  • Advise you on the best strategy for all your IP rights.
  • Register your patents, designs, and trade marks, and help you protect your trade secrets, worldwide.
  • Provide infringement and validity opinions for your patents, designs, and trade marks.
  • Carry out patent, design, and trade mark searches and watches.
  • Defend your IP rights from attacks via a patent or trade mark office, or court proceedings.
  • Enforce your rights against competitor infringement.
  • Draft the commercial, IP, and licensing agreements you need to capture, protect, and exploit your IP.
  • Offer a wider commercial perspective you can use to build and grow your business.

4 Reasons to Choose Potter Clarkson for Your Life Sciences IP

1. Sector-leading team

We’re one of Europe’s largest specialist IP teams for life sciences. Many of our attorneys hold PhDs in relevant scientific disciplines, and have worked both in-house and in private practice. This means we can anticipate and spot problems before they arise, and help you navigate a path to market.

2. Strategic perspective

We’ll guide you through the complexities of IP in this challenging, regulation-heavy sector, and help you develop a strategy that fits your business needs and commercial objectives.

By understanding your market, business plan, and wider goals, we’ll help you turn innovation into products and services that create maximum value.

3. Seamless multidisciplinary support

The integration between our attorneys and IP solicitors allows us to offer well-coordinated, multidisciplinary advice from a single source:

  • Our patent attorneys draft and prosecute patent applications, and defend or oppose patents.
  • Our specialist in-house IP solicitors negotiate and draft the agreements you need to develop, scale, and fully exploit your innovation.
  • Our trade mark attorneys protect and enforce your brand against competitor activity.
  • And in the event of enforcement, our IP solicitors can draw on deep experience of running technically difficult and procedurally complex cases to achieve the best possible outcome for clients.
  • Our team also includes experts who can provide the more specialist expertise you may need, including regulatory advice, trade secrets, SPCs, orphan drug designations, and digital innovation strategy.

4. Best-value IP products and processes

Built around the specific challenges faced by start-ups, SMEs, and investors, our innovative range of fixed-price IP solutions are designed to help you quickly and easily maximise the commercial value of your IP at each milestone, from initial funding to your chosen exit route.

4 Reasons to Choose Potter Clarkson for Your Life Sciences IP

  1. Sector-leading team

We’re one of Europe’s largest specialist IP teams for life sciences. Many of our attorneys hold PhDs in relevant scientific disciplines, and have worked both in-house and in private practice. This means we can anticipate and spot problems before they arise, and help you navigate a path to market.

  1. Strategic perspective

We’ll guide you through the complexities of IP in this challenging, regulation-heavy sector, and help you develop a strategy that fits your business needs and commercial objectives.

By understanding your market, business plan, and wider goals, we’ll help you turn innovation into products and services that create maximum value.

  1. Seamless multidisciplinary support

The integration between our attorneys and IP solicitors allows us to offer well-coordinated, multidisciplinary advice from a single source:

  • Our patent attorneys draft and prosecute patent applications, and defend or oppose patents.
  • Our specialist in-house IP solicitors negotiate and draft the agreements you need to develop, scale, and fully exploit your innovation.
  • Our trade mark attorneys protect and enforce your brand against competitor activity.
  • And in the event of enforcement, our IP solicitors can draw on deep experience of running technically difficult and procedurally complex cases to achieve the best possible outcome for clients.
  • Our team also includes experts who can provide the more specialist expertise you may need, including regulatory advice, trade secrets, SPCs, orphan drug designations, and digital innovation strategy.
  1. Best-value IP products and processes

Built around the specific challenges faced by start-ups, SMEs, and investors, our innovative range of fixed-price IP solutions are designed to help you quickly and easily maximise the commercial value of your IP at each milestone, from initial funding to your chosen exit route.

Meet the Team

Related News

UPC Court of Appeal lowers threshold in establishing imminent patent infringement for generic launch

UPC Court of Appeal lowers threshold in establishing imminent patent infringement for generic launch

A new lead candidate brings vaccine for Chagas disease closer to reality

A new lead candidate brings vaccine for Chagas disease closer to reality

The SPC Manufacturing Waiver in Practice: Legal Framework and Emerging Jurisprudence

The SPC Manufacturing Waiver in Practice: Legal Framework and Emerging Jurisprudence

Referral on EPO description amendments confirmed (G1/25 - “Hydroponics")

Referral on EPO description amendments confirmed (G1/25 - “Hydroponics")

UK approach to plausibility remains unchanged despite EPO’s G2/21

UK approach to plausibility remains unchanged despite EPO’s G2/21

Proposed reforms to regulatory exclusivities from the European Parliament and Council

Proposed reforms to regulatory exclusivities from the European Parliament and Council

UK SPC law changes from 1 January 2025: what you need to know

UK SPC law changes from 1 January 2025: what you need to know

G 1/24: EPO’s decision on claim interpretation

G 1/24: EPO’s decision on claim interpretation

Get in Touch with Our Life Sciences Team

Steve Smith
Chris Cadman
David Carling
Charlotte Crowhurst
Simon Curtis

Talk to us about IP for your life sciences innovation. Fill in the form and we'll be in touch soon.

Thank you.
Your details have been submitted.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.