Nucleic Acids

We pro-actively support our clients working on cutting-edge advances in this complex area

Nucleic Acids

In-depth technical and legal expertise across the diverse and rapidly evolving field of nucleic acid technologies

Whether focussed on therapeutics, diagnostics or platform technologies, patents in this field cover innovative developments at the interface of biology and chemistry. Our Biotechnology team offers in-depth technical and legal expertise across the diverse and rapidly evolving field of nucleic acid technologies.

We have supported, and continue to support, some of the pioneering companies in this area. To name just one example, we have worked with Ionis Pharmaceuticals for over 15 years on its antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics including those products commercialised as SPINRAZA®, WAYLIVRA® and TEGSEDI®.

We pro-actively support our clients who work on cutting-edge advances in this complex area, including cell-free DNA diagnostics, synthetic mRNAs, CRISPR-based technologies, gene therapies and next-generation sequencing.

We understand that patentability requirements in this field vary significantly across jurisdictions, and pride ourselves on providing bespoke, strategic advice of the highest standard. In addition to helping our clients with drafting, prosecution and contentious proceedings, we have expertise in advising on SPCs for nucleic acid therapeutics, which often pose technology-specific legal challenges.

Building a global patent portfolio for antisense therapeutics – Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals is the industry leader in designing and developing RNA-targeting antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics. Carpmaels & Ransford advises Ionis on its global patent portfolio across its large and diverse pipeline. We use our decades of expertise in handling patent applications in multiple jurisdictions to obtain robust worldwide protection for Ionis’ platform technologies and for its therapeutic oligonucleotides. We have also successfully prosecuted and then defended a number of important Ionis patents at the EPO, and advise Ionis on SPC strategy to maximise protection for its approved products.