Chartered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney, M.R. Hutchins & Co., 33 Connaught Way, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 9QP, UK, Tel: +44 (0)1892 539659, Fax: +44 (0)1892 618322, Email: mail@mrhutchins.fsnet.co.uk

Revised 14 March 2003.

Abstract

As companies in the medical industry struggle to develop new ways to gain competitive advantage in the face of increasing generic activity, lower levels of financial investment and demands for higher profitability, maximising patent protection through the use of interlocking additional early stage patents, is one way to help extend patent protection beyond the basic protection of the molecule. This paper outlines some of the areas and methods where additional protection may be available.