Carpmaels & Ransford LLP

Life Sciences

David has a diverse practice, working with therapeutic proteins, modified nucleic acids and traditional small molecules. He has particular experience handling platform technology cases, from drafting provisionals to EPO opposition, and from worldwide prosecution to national litigation. Highlights include successfully revoking many of Moderna’s platform patents for mRNA vaccines, protecting Ambrx’s antibody conjugate platform worldwide and successful opposition defences across Ionis’ modified oligonucleotide portfolio. David’s advice is built on almost two decades supporting both early-stage pharma companies and more established players such as Incyte, Biogen, J&J and Sanofi.

David’s practice focuses on managing interrelated prosecution, oppositions, and appeals at the EPO, often providing strategic advice where his client is opponent in one case and proprietor in the next. He works in collaboration with the firm’s dispute resolution team, including supporting several UPC actions in the area of human therapeutics. David has a particular interest in the development of Europe’s new patent court and he’s often asked to share his UPC expertise, both through industry-wide events such as those organised by AIPLA and also as a guest lecturer at the European Patent Litigator course held by the Politecnico di Milano. He also helps coordinate national litigation, including advocacy at the Swiss Federal Patent Court, trips to the German national courts and work on UK litigation projects.

Another of David’s specialisms is European patent term extensions (SPCs) for a wide range of products, including Jakavi®, Zynyz® and Evarrest®. Clients often rely on David to manage oppositions and patent prosecution that interlink with the SPC strategy. As part of this work, he assesses the SPC strength, patent coverage, and their interplay with the regulatory protections available to his clients. David is frequently involved in appeals against SPC refusals across Europe, including hearings at the UKIPO and supporting litigation in Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.

David was awarded a first-class degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge. He took full advantage of the breadth of this course by studying subjects as diverse as biochemistry, pharmacology, physiology and organic chemistry. This combination of experience gives David a particular edge when advising on products at the intersection of these fields, such as therapeutic polymers, antisense oligonucleotides and chemically modified proteins.

MSci and MA Natural Sciences (University of Cambridge) Chartered Patent Attorney European Patent Attorney UPC Representative