Landon IP reports UK in lead of patent filings

The UK takes the lead position when it comes to patent filings for point-of-care diagnostics in Europe, according to new research from Landon IP.

The research, a comprehensive patent landscape study undertaken for the Longitude Prize, shows that the UK is second only to the USA in the number of first fillings for patent applications directed to point-of-care diagnostics tests since 2009.

The Longitude Prize is a £10 million prize fund aiming to revolutionise global healthcare and conserve antibiotics for future generations. It is run by innovation charity Nesta with the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, as funding partner.

The findings are included in a report, Microbial infection: Point-of-care diagnostics, which examines patent filing behaviour relating to antimicrobial point-of-care diagnostics tests over the past five years. The aim of the research was to provide a global view of patents being filed in this area and to provide a useful tool for the judging panel to use as part of their assessment of entries.

With the rise of antimicrobial resistance identified as one of the greatest modern-day risks, Longitude Prize seeks to find a fast, accurate, easy-to-use and cost-effective test for microbial infections that will allow health professionals worldwide to administer the right antibiotics at the right time. The UK’s dedication to fighting antimicrobial resistance was previously substantiated in the ‘Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy’ (2013-2018) produced by the Department of Health and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dr Paul Chapman, partner and patent attorney at Marks & Clerk, and Longitude Prize 2014 advisory panel member, said: “New point-of-care diagnostics tests are key to the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Encouragingly, our research shows that there are a number of UK companies innovating in this area. Nonetheless, although leading within Europe, levels of UK innovation in antimicrobial point-of-care diagnostics still lag behind the USA by quite some margin. More will need to be done to address the issue and to stimulate further innovation in this vital area.”

CPA Global’s CEO, Tim Griffiths said: “Public awareness of the significant global health threat posed by the rise of antimicrobial resistance is increasing, as is the urgency in finding a solution. Our patent landscaping study shows that many different types of entities are engaged in this endeavour, with large pharmaceutical companies and SMEs, universities, and government agencies all carrying out research into point-of-care diagnostics. However, the study also demonstrates that there is considerable scope for further research - and we hope initiatives like Longitude Prize 2014 will encourage other innovative organisations and individuals to take up the challenge.”

Tamar Ghosh, Longitude Prize Lead at Nesta said: “This patent landscape study is a very valuable tool for the Prize. It helps us to understand the specific types of research in different parts of the world, and will also be used as a tool to help the judging Panel assess entries. Our hope is that the combination of Longitude Prize and greater awareness of the problem of antimicrobial resistance will fuel a dramatic acceleration in the search for solutions, many of which may be surprising and from unexpected sources”.