Pharma

Advising Johnson & Johnson (Janssen Sciences) in its defence of SPC revocation proceedings for an SPC covering the active ingredient in Prezista, Janssen’s blockbuster medication for the treatment of HIV-1. The case concerns the interpretation of Article 3(a) of the SPC Regulation and the appropriate test for determining whether a product is “protected” by a patent and therefore eligible for SPC protection. We are involved in proceedings before the CJEU and the co-ordination of litigation across a number of key European markets.

Over the last five years, we have advised AstraZeneca on a number of divestments of mature products and assets, including the sale of the European commercial rights to Seloken in a deal worth more than $300m and the sale of the US and European rights to Entocort for €380m and €215m respectively.  We have advised on the transfer of assets, licensing of trade marks, long term supply arrangements, regulatory, competition and merger control aspects of divestments.

Advising GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) on the restructuring of its distribution model for its UK product portfolio, moving from a direct-to-pharmacy model to a reduced wholesaler model.  Our advice included competition, regulatory and data privacy advice as well as helping to put in place the new commercial arrangements with GSK’s suppliers.

We are advising on the current investigations by the UK Competition and Markets Authority into the supply of generic pharmaceuticals.