Life Sciences Hub

Legal and regulatory developments in the Life Sciences sector

14 September 2020 - Posted by: Lars Braams

As per 8 September 2020, 143 search results containing the words “Covid 19” in the title, claims or the abstract of a patent show up in the international patent database Espacenet. Over the past weeks, this number grows with about 15 new results each week. While the race for a vaccine covers the headlines around › Read More

14 July 2020 - Posted by: Charles Tuffreau

In a landmark decision dated 9 July 2020 concerning the Santen case (C‑673/18), the Grand Chamber of the CJEU clearly reverses the Neurim decision (C‑130/11) and ruled that a MA cannot be considered to be the first MA, for the purpose of Article 3(d), where it covers a new therapeutic application of an active ingredient › Read More

16 June 2020 - Posted by: Eveline Van Keymeulen

On a judgment C-786/18 issued on 11 June 2020 (available in French here, the English translation has not been published yet), the Court of Justice of the European Union holds that pharmaceutical companies may not distribute to pharmacists free samples of medicinal products only available on prescription. However, the Court specifies that EU law does › Read More

12 June 2020 - Posted by: Zara Sproul

In recent weeks and months, the life sciences sector has been the focal point of efforts to respond to the Covid-19 threat.  While these efforts have – justifiably – occupied many of the headlines, this blog post looks at the impact of the pandemic on “non-Covid” focused clinical trials and steps taken to limit disruption › Read More

15 May 2020 - Posted by: Eveline Van Keymeulen

Yesterday, Advocate General Tanchev presented his long-awaited opinion before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Case C-663/18 (Kanavape) stating that the general ban on natural cannabidiol (CBD) in France is contrary to EU law. It is the first time that the highest European Court, including the Advocate General, has been requested › Read More