The purpose of the presentation is to provide a structured overview of the essential concepts
required to approach patenting in the life sciences. It is designed to familiarize students with
the fundamental legal and technical requirements for patentability, while also highlighting the
key aspects and considerations that characterize the protection of biotechnological and
biomedical inventions. By outlining these core principles, the presentation aims to oƯer a clear foundation for understanding how innovation in the life sciences is translated into formal
intellectual property rights.
Biomedical discoveries are at the basis of the advancement of medicine as well as of the development of
innovative drugs. Bringing a new drug to market is a long process that requires significant investments.
This process is sustainable if sales of the drug can recoup the costs of development; this is possible if a
patent protects the drug thus excluding others from making, using, offering for sale, and selling the
drug. Patents are therefore key assets in the pharmaceutical field as they allow protecting discoveries
and turning them into commercial opportunities. In the academic setting, patents are a way for
attracting investments and industry collaborations. The lecture will provide a few examples describing
the content of a patent document claiming new drugs, and its lifecycle.
8 maggio 2026