I am delighted to announce the publication of my article "Patent strategies and their impact on competition in the pharmaceutical industry" in the most recent edition of the legal journal ‘Pharmarecht’ (pharmaceutical law). The pharmaceutical industry is characterized by its stronger reliance on patents when compared to other areas of technology. Having regard to the enormous research and development costs involved in the development and marketing of new drugs, adequate patent protection is essential for incentivising drug development. While the granting of effective patent protection is rightly considered vital for pharmaceutical research, strategies have also been evolving over recent decades to extend the monopoly granted by patents, leading to a stifling of competition. This article discusses the strategies and tools employed by patent holders, explains how they work and their impact on innovation, competition and access to affordable medicines. Maiwald Intellectual Property; #TeamMaiwald; #patent; #pharma
