Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Case Study
The Case
Prof. Andrews is a Professor within the School of Chemistry at the
University of the East Midlands (UoEM).
During the study of his Ph.D., Mr. Evans tried to synthesise a new drug
aimed at selectively killing cancer cells, under the supervision of Prof.
Andrews.
Upon analysis of the product of this reaction, Mr. Evans noticed that the
reaction had not in fact yielded the expected product, but had instead lead
to another compound, compound X.
Compound X showed no activity against the cancer cells for which the
original compound was designed.
The results of this drug target screen were very positive identifying several
drug targets against which compound X was active.
Both Prof. Andrews and Dr. Cairns attended a conference in the USA in
2007, where, over dinner with their wives, they discussed aspects of the
work relating to compound X.
Mr. Evans found that the exact structure of compound X proved difficult to
establish. He therefore asked many people within his department to help
him determine the correct structure of the compound.
Eventually, Dr. Davies, who is one of the other academics within the
Chemistry Department of UoEM was able to reveal the structure of
compound X, which proved particularly challenging to determine exactly.
Some months later, Dr. Cairns contacted Prof. Andrews by e-mail. Part of
this email read:
Subsequently the patent attorneys found that the French group had in fact
been granted a patent in 2002 for the compounds they had made and their
use as a herbicide.
UoEM filed for a provisional UK patent on the 1st of April 2007, which was
followed up a year later with an international PCT patent application on the
1st of April 2008.
There may be more than one correct answer to each question, and
where you think that this may be the case please chose ‘two or
more of the above’
The Scope of the Invention
This is because the legal protection granted by the patent relies solely upon
the claims defined by the patent attorney.
The strength and scope of the claims will determine the extent to which the
inventor(s)/owners can pursue the full financial value of the monopoly
granted under the patent, and avoid other parties questioning the validity of
the invention for their own financial benefit.
In broad terms, what is the invention UoEM
are trying to patent?
1. Compound X per se
2. A method of producing Compound X
3. The fact that the reaction went wrong and gave the unexpected
Compound X
4. Compound X for use as a drug
5. Compound X for treating HIV/AIDS
6. A method of treating HIV/AIDS
7. Two or more of the above
In broad terms, how should the patent attorney
define Compound X?
If the new invention is disclosed into the public domain or “made available to
the public” this can affect whether a patent is granted.
What effect might the following scenarios have on the likelihood of UoEM’s
patent being granted or on them finding a licensing partner?
Prof. Andrews discussed his work relating to Compound X
with Dr. Brown and Dr. Davies at a UoEM staff
Christmas lunch in December 2006
A patent is a negative right (i.e. it stops others from using the technology
detailed in the patent claims).
As such, you may not in fact be able to use your own invention or
technology since parts of your invention may rely upon using other people’s
patented technology.
1. The fact that Dr. Cairns could file another patent in this area
2. The fact that UoEM could file another patent in this area
3. The content of the French patent
4. The content of the paper published in the French Journal of
Chemistry
What is your best option to ensure that you
have freedom to operate?
Organisations
School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, U.K. in association with
Mewburn Ellis LLP
Supported by: