Life Sciences and Health

Bryn Aarflot has extensive experience of helping clients in health and life sciences, including the following areas:

Biotechnology

Biotechnology encompasses all use of living organisms, including micro-organisms and cells, to manufacture different products. These can include anything from new drugs to specific use of micro-organisms, or altering plants or animals. Biotechnology also includes genetic engineering and is of major importance in disciplines such as pharmaceuticals, aquaculture and agriculture.

Pharma: Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics

We include in drugs and diagnostics all biological and chemical products used for the prevention and treatment of physical and psychological ailments and diseases, and all biological, chemical and technological products used in diagnosis. This industry has seen tremendous value creation in Norway in recent years, and there is great potential for more in this industry.

Medtech

The field of tech includes medical-technical products used for the prevention and treatment of diseases, injury and degeneration. We can also include ICT products and services used for monitoring, prevention and treatment of diseases and administrative systems and processes in the health sector. Medical-technical equipment is an increasing part of the costs within health care and hospitals, and there is increasing use of robotic technology and digitization of equipment. The sorting, analysis and application of Big Data could significantly change the healthcare system and quality of treatment.

Food, Health and Welfare

This industry covers food and food technology, as well as dietary and medical food. With increasing focus on individual needs and wishes, this is the industry that is constantly expanding into new categories.

Human Needs and Special Aids

We have basic needs at all stages of life and we may need special aids to help us meet those daily needs. This industry is a growing market and offers great potential for new technical aids, both simple and more advanced.

Agriculture

Agriculture’s main objective is to produce renewable biological resources such as forests, soils, livestock and plants for food, energy, products and materials. In addition, the social aim of Norwegian agriculture is to ensure sufficient, safe and varied food of good quality.

Cosmetics

The cosmetics industry is a diverse industry that includes everything from affordable hand soaps, makeup, hair colour and nail polish to exclusive face creams. The market for beauty and personal care is growing, and new products are constantly being developed.

Industry Players

There is a range of players in the field of life sciences and health. A variety of important research is carried out at universities, university hospitals and research institutes. Both larger and smaller players cooperate through networks and clusters. From large and established pharmaceutical companies to small entrepreneurial companies, solutions are being found to various issues. The enormous breadth of this field, ranging from agriculture via medicines to cosmetics means that IP needs are as varied and different as the industry player. A common denominator, however, is the need for a high degree of awareness around IP, in combination with a clear strategy for the treatment of intangible assets.

Why are intellectual property rights important?

IP plays a different role in the different areas of life sciences and health.
Both pharmaceuticals and diagnostics involve lengthy development and a race to commercialize. This is costly, but can potentially lead to very high revenues. It is therefore particularly important to have an IP strategy that mirrors the business strategy and includes a plan to identify, manage and protect IP values, as well as a plan for dealing with 3rd party rights (FTO). A good IP strategy can determine whether or not a company succeeds.

Patenting and the scope of patent protection have been controversial issues within modern biotechnology. Guidelines for the patenting of inventions related to plants and animals vary from country to country. Expert knowledge of the subject area is vital for securing the necessary intellectual property rights for biotech companies.

In this field there is a high level of innovation, constantly new technical solutions and an increasing degree of digitization. The need to protect rights and have a clear and appropriate IP strategy is even more important. For the food industry, increasing competitiveness makes it even more important to safeguard rights for new manufacturing methods, products and applications. A comprehensive IP strategy is essential, that includes packaging, trademark registration and marketing in addition to patenting technical solutions. The patent rate is far lower in the cosmetics industry than, for example, in the pharmaceutical industry, but is still relatively high compared to many other industries. In addition, trademark protection is very important. In sales of makeup and perfume, the client’s associations with the brand are often the decisive factor.

In all areas of life sciences and health, getting the right help and guidance from experienced IP advisors who understand your particular focus areas, is crucial. This is how to establish and retain your position and find your way around the industry’s particular challenges.

How can we help?

Bryn Aarflot’s team of patent attorneys all hold a master’s or doctorate within various branches of life science. Our core life-science team has more than 40 years of experience from the industry and from research institutes. The team includes researchers, research leaders, inventors, in-house patent advisors and lawyers. Our expertise and in-depth knowledge give us a thorough understanding of our clients’ technology and challenges. In this way we can help you to further develop technology and strategies to strengthen intellectual property rights, and so strengthen your market position and increase revenues.

Our clients in life science range from small start-ups to large multinational corporations. We have extensive experience in areas including freedom to operate analyses, intervention assessments, patenting, litigation and the preparation and implementation of IP strategies within this area.