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Prior art search for a pharmaceutical EPO opposition

A leading global pharmaceutical company secures robust, opposition-ready prior art to challenge a target patent for a fixed-dose drug injection device.
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The Challenge

Complex mechanical interactions in structural claims

A European patent attorney from one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies required a comprehensive invalidity search to support a planned opposition before the European Patent Office (EPO). The target patent covered a fixed-dose drug injection device featuring a sophisticated mechanical injector with multiple interacting components governing dose setting and drug delivery.

The search demanded the identification of prior art disclosing highly specific structural relationships between tubular members, guide tracks, and follower mechanisms. These features are rarely described together within a single reference. Given the strategic importance of the matter, the project required an evolving search strategy and close collaboration to analyze promising references in greater detail.

The Solution

Iterative global search driven by technical experts

An extensive search of US, German, Korean, and other international patent and non-patent literature was conducted. To address the technical complexity, the search strategy was continuously refined through multiple iterations to evaluate the strongest available prior art against the mechanical claims.

The execution centered on three key pillars:

Senior technical oversight

Deployment of a research team, including a Ph.D.-level scientist and experienced patent analysts, to dissect the complex device mechanics.

Multi-jurisdictional searching

Exhaustive querying of US, German, and Korean databases to uncover structural disclosures across key engineering hubs.

Iterative strategy refinement

Close collaboration with counsel to continuously adapt search parameters as promising mechanical references were uncovered.

Our impact

Anchoring an EPO opposition with robust prior art

European patent oppositions require identifying the strongest prior art under demanding timelines and exacting technical standards. This engagement demonstrates the value of combining deep technical expertise and global research capabilities to deliver comprehensive, opposition-ready prior art.

The tangible value created for the client included:

Targeted prior art discovery

Uncovered multiple highly relevant references, including German, Korean, and US patents addressing key injection device elements.

Robust evidence base

Delivered a strong body of prior art specifically mapping the structural relationships between tubular members and follower mechanisms.

Strong technical foundation

Provided comprehensive analyses to give counsel a highly defensible foundation for assessing and executing validity challenges.

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The challenge

A pharmaceutical leader needed highly specific prior art disclosing complex mechanical relationships within an injection device to support an EPO opposition.

Why it worked

Iterative technical search

A senior team led by a Ph.D.-level scientist executed multiple rounds of targeted, multi-jurisdictional searching to isolate rarely co-disclosed structural features.

The outcome

  • Uncovered key German, Korean, and U.S. patents
  • Mapped complex dose-setting interactions
  • Delivered a robust foundation for the EPO opposition
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