Biotechnology & Pharma

Overview

Biotechnology & Pharma is a multi-billion-dollar industry characterized by the rapid evolution of emerging technologies like CRISPR. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that the biotech & pharma industry must be able to pivot its focus to address the quickly developing global health crises. The rapid development of vaccines, medical diagnostics, and drug development, including the repurposing of existing drugs, genetic engineering, and supportive medical devices, was critical in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and are key in tackling other local and global health challenges, including cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, dementia, among many others.

Biotechnology is also at the forefront of addressing climate change and provides innovative solutions to waste management, environmental remediation, energy generation and storage. In addition, biotechnology applications in farming and crop management improve food security while helping to mitigate the environmental impact of farming practices.

As a world leader in biotechnology, Canada is second only to the US[i] in the number of biotechnology-related companies, researchers, and institutions. Canada is responsible for 10% of global biotechnology revenues, generating approximately $54 billion annually[ii]. Additionally, Canada’s increased national emphasis on Life Science industries is strongly supported by the Canadian government and its Strategic Innovation Fund, as well as private venture capital groups and equity firms through their targeted investment into brand name and generic pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceutical enterprises, and contract research and manufacturing organizations (SROs and SMOs).

We understand that science always comes first, which drives innovation and eventually turns into a patenting strategy. The Biotechnology & Pharma industry is the most research-and capital-intensive industry with long payback periods on these R&D investments. To ensure commercial success, it is critical to protect your R&D efforts with a robust patenting strategy and create an efficient plan to navigate through Canada’s complex regulatory framework.

[i]  Canada’s Biotechnology Strategy – Canada.ca

[ii] News biotech and life sciences – Marsdd.com

MBM’s technical expertise

MBM’s Biotechnology & Pharma group is comprised of senior patent agents, trademark agents, and lawyers who hold advanced degrees in a variety of disciplines, including experts in the fields of molecular biology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, environmental toxicology, microbiology, immunology and chemical physics among many others. To stay abreast of the most current advances related to Biotechnology & Pharma, our experts regularly attend industry conferences and hold memberships in key industry associations.

MBM has worked with a variety of clients in the Biotechnology & Pharma industry to obtain patent protection and manage their worldwide IP portfolios. We provide a full array of IP services, including inventor interviews & patent drafting, coordinating filings worldwide, navigating through Canadian regulatory requirements and patent listings, PMPRB reviews, Plant Breeders’ rights, as well as complex litigation in patent and trademark infringement. Our clients range from large international pharmaceutical companies, universities and research institutions, small biotech start-ups and everything in between. We provide strategic IP advice and patent drafting & filing services at all stages of product development, including early pre-clinical testing, regulatory approval, marketing, and future infringement monitoring. We utilize our specialized scientific backgrounds combined with vast legal experience to create a tailored IP strategy to ensure the maximal protection of IP rights that align with your business goals.

What MBM Can Do for You

• IP Strategy and worldwide portfolio management
• Patent drafting and prosecution
• Legal opinions regarding patent validity and infringement issues
• Freedom to Operate opinions
• Licensing agreements and joint development ventures
• Supplier agreements
• IP enforcement litigation
• Plant Breeders rights
• Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) services including Patent Register listings
• PMPRB reviews
• Industrial designs
• Trademarks