Strategic IP Leadership in Life Sciences
I bring a distinctive perspective to IP strategy for the life sciences sector that combines scientific expertise with commercial insight. My academic foundation in immunology (University College London), coupled with my role as IP Director at AstraZeneca, has given me an unique vantage point on intellectual property in life sciences. I have managed complex global IP portfolios across all stages of the pharmaceutical pipeline, from early platform development in advanced modalities through to marketed products. I therefore understand how IP decisions impact business outcomes at every phase of development. This rare combination of scientific depth, practical patent experience, and strategic business acumen allows me to see beyond conventional approaches to IP protection.
Translating Complex IP Strategy into Clear Business Value
During my extensive experience in-house in a large pharmaceutical company, I have developed highly effective strategies for communicating the value of patent portfolios to C-suite executive in order to secure continued investment.A strong IP position is essential for success in life sciences. The value of your IP strategy is also only as good as your ability to effectively communicate it. Your focus when communicating your IP strategy should be on how your IP will provide exclusivity and ensure return of investment for your product. This message must be clear and understandable to all stakeholders.
Not all IP is equal
Key to a successful IP strategy is recognising that not all IP is equal. IP must be strong, relevant and enforceable if it is going to successfully protect return of investment for a product in the life sciences sector. It is not enough merely to have patent filings, these patent must be aligned with the long-term business goals of you any your investors. I have extensive experience managing patent strategy for pharmaceutical products at all stages of the pipeline, from protecting early platform development to supporting continue life-cycle management investment for an on-market products. I therefore have first-hand experience of how to ensure IP strategy is aligned with the business goals.
IP strategy for advanced modalities
IP strategy needs to be as forward-thinking and fast-moving as the science it seeks to protect. There is no one-sized fits approach to IP that can to applied to all types of pharmaceutical products, and this is all the more true in the field of advanced modalities. As the IP lead for the biopharma cell therapy department at AstraZeneca I developed an approach to cell therapy IP strategy that takes account of the complex and unique scientific, commercial and regulatory environment for cell therapy products.
Interested in IP strategy for cell therapies? Read more on the blog.
IP strategy for AI-assisted drug discovery
The pharma industry is arguably the field in which AI has the most to offer humanity. AI-assisted drug design also highlights the need for IP strategy to adapt itself to emerging technologies . Strong IP protection for the clinical drug candidate will be of paramount importance, regardless of how the drug was discovered. For AI drug discovery platform companies there may also be highly valuable IP associated with the platform technology itself. An important question for such companies is when, and even if, to file patents for this IP. My knowledge of how the pharmaceutical industry operates and thinks about IP allows me to provide highly strategic advice to AI drug development companies on how to position their IP portfolios.
Interested in IP & AI? Read more on the blog.
