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As part of our sector-focused series, we have curated the key resources and points you need to know from the last quarter’s legal updates. Understand the key news stories, practice notes, trackers and upcoming webinars specific to the Life Sciences industry.

5 key news stories

1.  Supreme Court—Unilever involved in dispute with inventor and fined £2m

Mark Daniels, partner and head of patents at Browne Jacobson LLP, examines the Supreme Court’s decision in Shanks v Unilever plc ,  that, under  of the Patents Act 1977, the appellant inventor (Professor Shanks) was entitled to compensation of £2m from the group of companies of which his employer was part. The court held that £2m would give him a fair share of the outstanding benefit that the group had derived from the invention and various patents relating to it.

See News Analysis: .

2.  Human Medicines and Medical Devices Regulations 2019

The Human Medicines and Medical Devices (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, : this enactment is made in exercise of legislative powers under the  in preparation for Brexit. This enactment amends UK subordinate legislation in relation to the regulation of human medicines and medical devices in order to ensure that the published policy in the event that no deal is reached on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU is properly reflected in those legislation. It comes into force immediately before exit day. (Updated from draft on 28 October 2019.)

See: .

3.  European Commission sets out good practice to assess GMO for gene therapy products

The European Commission has updated its advanced therapies website to include a document on good practice on the assessment of genetically modified organisms (GMO)-related aspects in the context of clinical trials with Adeno-associated virus (AAV) clinical vectors as part of its GMO section dealing with GMO requirements for investigational products.

See: .

4.  World Health Organisation’s Digital Health Technical Advisory Group sets agenda for next two years

World Health Organisation has called upon experts from across the digital health industries to discuss and advance the access to and the use of digital health technologies worldwide. The Digital Health and Technical Advisory Group met for its first session to establish its priorities over the next two years.

See: 

5.  European federation seeks views on multi-sector health innovation partnership

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations has released a questionnaire and seeks comment on a Health Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda. This agenda includes the inauguration of institutionalised PPPs by Horizon Europe, as well as the creation of a European multi-sector partnership for health innovation. To learn more about this proposed European Health PPP, a dedicated webinar will take place on 4 November 2019, 2 pm CET. The online questionnaire closes 24 November 2019.

See: .

Brexit focus - Commercial and practical help

To help you cut through the noise, here are a couple of resources giving you the need-to-know information:

1.  Practice notes

2.  Continental Shift: No-deal Brexit and the law

We have published a report on the repercussions of a no-deal Brexit, drawing from interviews with legal professionals:

Continental Shift: No-deal Brexit and the law

3.  Brexit toolkits

Our Brexit toolkit draws together Brexit content for the practice areas that are relevant for you.

Keeping up to date

Trackers

Trackers are practice notes intended to be used to track the progress of legislative proposals, relevant cases, current consultations and key news and guidance relevant to the Life Sciences sector.

Click to view individual trackers in the following topic areas:

Practice notes

Practice notes give you practical guidance on specific case law and legislation across Life Sciences, helping you conduct your work efficiently and easily:

Webinars

Sign-up to upcoming and view on demand:

27^th November 2019 12:30pm GMT

Get connected…

LexTalk®Life Sciences: a Lexis®PSL community. Collaborate and network with a community of expert lawyers.

LexTalk® is a new online community forum which gives Lexis®PSL subscribers the opportunity to post questions, hold conversations, participate in discussions and share best practice. It has been designed to provide a secure place for legal professionals to discuss legal developments, offer and receive peer support, and gain a sense of up to date market practice and advances in real-time. You can access and post questions on all of the dedicated practice area forums, including a dedicated community for Lexis®PSL Life Sciences.

Click to sign up and meet like-minded community members, create a profile, connect, share, and start participating today! Alternatively, you can access LexTalk® on the key resources tab on your Practice Area home page.