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Sector » Biotechnology

Biotechnology

Areas of focus:

    Antibody engineering
    Antibody manufacture and formulation
    Biosimilars
    Drug delivery
    Gene editing (e.g. CRISPR)
    Genomic and molecular tools and methods
    GM crops
    Immuno-oncology (e.g. checkpoint inhibitors; modified T cells)
    Next generation sequencing
    Nucleic acid synthesis
    Personalised medicine/disease biomarkers
    Recombinant protein production and purification
    Stem cell therapies
    Supplementary protection certificates (SPCs)
    Synthetic biology
    Therapeutic antibodies
    Vaccinology (e.g. viral vectors; mRNA vaccines)
    Women’s health products

The biotech industry encompasses a vast array of technologies across areas such as medicine, medical research, genetics and agriculture. Specialisms in the industry include gene editing, stem cell therapies, vaccines, antibodies, diagnostics and more.

Notwithstanding the diversity of technology areas, many of those working in the biotech sector share the same overarching goal – the improvement of health and therapeutic outcomes. Such improvement can be attained in a host of different ways. These include a better understanding of human disease, advances in diagnosis and the development of more effective treatments, in particular personalised medicine. 

One of the major areas of focus is antibody technology, which holds enormous potential as targeted diagnostic and therapeutic agents. There is also a diverse field of genomic and molecular tools, including technology platforms based on CRISPR/Cas gene editing, next-generation sequencing including single-cell sequencing, nucleic acid synthesis and reagents, and synthetic biology. These tools have transformed the pace of research, science and biomanufacturing. Furthermore, as part of personalised medicine, they are also transforming the diagnosis, treatment and management of disease.

T-cell engineering, cell therapy and the development of therapies like CAR T-cells has expanded the toolkit available for the management of conditions such as cancer. The field continues to be driven forward by innovation at all levels, whether that be in receptor design, cell manipulation techniques, clinical production methods, or elsewhere. 

The biotech team
The team at Boult draws from strong academic backgrounds in fields including biochemistry, molecular biology and immunology. Our combined knowledge allows us to assist clients working across the biotech sector.

We have many years of experience assisting clients at all stages of their patent journey and pride ourselves in tailoring our services to the needs of each individual client. We are well-equipped to help universities and SMEs as well as global biotech companies. We represent some of the largest players in the biotech world.

We undertake the full spectrum of patent work, from drafting specifications 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 handle a large and growing portfolio of opposition and appeal cases for our clients at the European Patent Office and have experience supporting pan-European litigation.

We are proud to represent some of the major biotech companies working in this field. We also work with specialists from across the industry, including antibody technology, CRISPR/Cas gene editing; next-generation sequencing including single-cell sequencing, nucleic acid synthesis and reagents; synthetic biology, T-cell engineering and cell therapy and CAR T-cells technology. Our clients in the antibody sector have a wide range of interests, from antibody engineering and therapeutic antibody development through to manufacture, formulation and biosimilars.

“It is a privilege to assist companies working at the forefront of innovation in the biotech sector. Our team brings together a unique set of biotech knowledge and skills allowing us to work effectively and creatively with clients across a broad range of technological areas.”

Dr Joanna Peak
PARTNER
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Case study: Major monoclonal antibody client

We are proud to act on behalf of clients from inception of a project through to successful commercialisation. When one of our clients made its first venture into the monoclonal antibody space, Boult worked with the scientists to develop and draft a robust patent portfolio around the new antibody.

As the program developed and attracted interest from investors, we helped guide the client through the associated due diligence projects, resulting in injections of additional funding. The program and the IP underpinning it continue to show significant promise resulting in a collaboration with a major pharmaceutical company to develop and commercialise the monoclonal antibody in the immuno-oncology area.

As a result the company secured an upfront payment in excess of $500m in addition to potential milestone and royalty payments.

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The biotech industry encompasses a vast array of technologies across areas such as medicine, medical research, genetics and agriculture. Specialisms in the industry include gene editing, stem cell therapies, vaccines, antibodies, diagnostics and more.

Notwithstanding the diversity of technology areas, many of those working in the biotech sector share the same overarching goal – the improvement of health and therapeutic outcomes. Such improvement can be attained in a host of different ways. These include a better understanding of human disease, advances in diagnosis and the development of more effective treatments, in particular personalised medicine. 

One of the major areas of focus is antibody technology, which holds enormous potential as targeted diagnostic and therapeutic agents. There is also a diverse field of genomic and molecular tools, including technology platforms based on CRISPR/Cas gene editing, next-generation sequencing including single-cell sequencing, nucleic acid synthesis and reagents, and synthetic biology. These tools have transformed the pace of research, science and biomanufacturing. Furthermore, as part of personalised medicine, they are also transforming the diagnosis, treatment and management of disease.

T-cell engineering, cell therapy and the development of therapies like CAR T-cells has expanded the toolkit available for the management of conditions such as cancer. The field continues to be driven forward by innovation at all levels, whether that be in receptor design, cell manipulation techniques, clinical production methods, or elsewhere. 

The biotech team
The team at Boult draws from strong academic backgrounds in fields including biochemistry, molecular biology and immunology. Our combined knowledge allows us to assist clients working across the biotech sector.

We have many years of experience assisting clients at all stages of their patent journey and pride ourselves in tailoring our services to the needs of each individual client. We are well-equipped to help universities and SMEs as well as global biotech companies. We represent some of the largest players in the biotech world.

We undertake the full spectrum of patent work, from drafting specifications 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 handle a large and growing portfolio of opposition and appeal cases for our clients at the European Patent Office and have experience supporting pan-European litigation.

We are proud to represent some of the major biotech companies working in this field. We also work with specialists from across the industry, including antibody technology, CRISPR/Cas gene editing; next-generation sequencing including single-cell sequencing, nucleic acid synthesis and reagents; synthetic biology, T-cell engineering and cell therapy and CAR T-cells technology. Our clients in the antibody sector have a wide range of interests, from antibody engineering and therapeutic antibody development through to manufacture, formulation and biosimilars.

What sets us apart
The team at Boult is headed up by leading experts in the biotech field and we are often sought out to assist with the most complex patent matters. We have an excellent track record when it comes to contentious patent work and regularly represent major players in the biotech industry in oppositions and appeals before the European Patent Office. 

Recent highlights

  • Our longstanding client is a company working at the heart of immunology innovation. We are proud to have assisted the client from the very start of its journey through to its first drug approvals in the US and Europe. The Boult team has supported the client in building a robust patent portfolio to go hand-in-hand with its status as a global immunology company. 

Biotechnology team

Partners

Dr James Legg
Partner Cambridge
Dr Jonathan Palmer
Partner Reading
Dr Joanna Peak
Partner London
Dr Barbara Rigby
Partner Cambridge
Dr Edward Ronan
Partner London
Dr Howard Sands
Partner London
Marcus Sims
Partner London
Matthew Spencer
Partner Cambridge
Dr Naomi Stevens
Partner Cambridge
Dr Nina White
Partner London

Senior associates

Dr Nadia Tyler-Rubinstein
Senior Associate London

Attorneys

Dr Olga Bohuszewicz
Patent Attorney Cambridge
Thomas Davis
Patent Attorney London
Dr Farzana Miah
Senior Associate London
Dr Thomas Ricketts
Patent Attorney Cambridge
Angela Stephen
Patent Attorney London
Alex Stephenson
Patent Attorney London

Assistants and trainees

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