Simon Wright

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT SIMON WRIGHT

I have nearly 40 years’ experience of patent and IP work, including drafting and filing patent applications throughout the world, in particular before the European Patent Office (EPO). I handle mainly prosecution work, as well as opposition and appeals before the EPO, primarily in the life sciences area. My technical work covers chemical, pharma and biotech, especially CRISPR, vaccines, biomarkers, inhalers, fermentation technology, PUFAs, astaxanthin and Vitamin B12 technology. I also handles cases on gene therapy, personalised medicine and nutrition, biofuels, liposome technology, prognostic cancer markers and stem cells.My clients range from European multinational companies to small UK academic organisations. He has been involved in oppositions and appeals concerning human pheromones, Hoffman-La Roche’s PCR patents, ultrasound contrast agents, medical devices (for measuring glucose levels), nutritional uses of arachidonic acid (ARA), vaccine technology and anti-prolactin agents.Simon was involved in the seminal EPO Board of Appeal Decision T820/92 concerning a contraceptive method involving the administration of LHRH to women.He also acted as an expert witness, and so gave evidence to the UK High Court, in the HGS vs Eli Lilly litigation, which led to the first ever Supreme Court decision on a patent matter (concerning industrial applicability).Simon is a Council member for both professional institutes, The Chartered Institute of Patent Agents (CIPA) in the UK and Institute of Representatives before the EPO (epi). He is one of two UK members of the epi governing Board. He is the Chair of the CIPA Biotech Committee, which organises a successful annual conference in late November. He is Secretary of the Biotech Committee for the epi. This gives him a valuable insight into future legislative and practice changes, in particular before the EPO, and the opportunity to influence future legislation.Specialties: Pharmaceuticals, vaccines, insulin inhalers, fermentation technology, pharmaceutical/nutritional uses of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), enzyme variants/enzyme production by recombinant technology, production/foodstuff uses of astaxanthin, Vitamin B12 production technology, gene therapy, personalised nutrition technology, liposome manufacture/development of pharmaceuticals, stem cell technology for wound dressings & artificial skin, artificial blood products and ultrasound contrast agents.