In this webinar, Simon and Tom explore recent EPO Board of Appeal decisions affecting the protection of biotechnology and life sciences inventions, with practical insights for patent applicants, in-house counsel, researchers, and IP professionals.

• Recorded: 14 July 2026
• Format: On-demand webinar
• Duration: 60 minutes

Topics covered

T 265/23 - credible therapeutic effect

Jurisdiction: EPO
Decision level: Technical Board of Appeal
Parties: AbbVie Inc (applicant) and Generics UK Limited (opponent)
Citation: T 0265/23
Date: 06 November 2025

G 2/21 - post-published evidence to support an improved technical effect

Jurisdiction: EPO
Decision level: Enlarged Board of Appeal
Parties: Sumito Chemical Company Limited (patent proprietor) and Syngenta Limited (opponent)
Citation: G 0002/21
Date: 23 March 2023

Cases discussed and cited

G 2/21, G 1/03, G 2/10, T 158/96, T 609/02, T 801/06, T 433/05, T 1868/16, T 1989/19, T 2716/19, T 0314/20, T 0840/22, T 0887/21, T 1994/22, T 265/23, T 0592/24 and T 0655/24.

By watching this webinar, you will gain:

• An understanding of recent EPO biotechnology patent case law developments.
• Practical guidance on demonstrating technical effects in patent applications.
• Insights into evidential requirements following G 2/21.
• Strategic considerations for drafting and prosecuting life sciences and biotechnology patent applications before the EPO.
   

Speakers

Simon O'Brien is a partner and European patent attorney at D Young & Co. His practice covers biotechnology, molecular biology, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, food technology and nutrition. He has extensive experience in EPO oppositions and appeals, manages international patent portfolios and regularly lectures on life sciences patent law. Simon is also the founder and host of D Young & Co's Biotechnology European Patent Case Law webinar series.

Tom Pagdin is a European patent attorney specialising in biotechnology, immunology and molecular genetics. His experience includes antibodies, CAR-T technologies, RNAi, vaccines, viral vectors, gene editing technologies and diagnostics. Tom advises clients ranging from universities and start-ups to multinational companies on patent drafting, prosecution, oppositions and appeals.

Who should watch?

This webinar is relevant to patent attorneys, in-house IP counsel, biotech and pharmaceutical companies, university technology transfer teams, R&D professionals, and anyone involved in protecting biotechnology and life sciences innovations in Europe. It will be particularly valuable for those working in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, antibodies, gene editing technologies, RNA-based therapeutics, vaccines, viral vectors, immunology, molecular genetics and other life sciences sectors seeking to understand recent EPO case law.

About this series

This webinar forms part of D Young & Co's ongoing Biotechnology European Patent Case Law series, providing regular updates and practical analysis of important EPO decisions affecting the life sciences sector. 

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