Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Patents: A Handbook

Authors:

Marco Stief, Maximilian Haedicke, Annelie Wünsche

• ISBN: 9781849464901
• Published: January 2026
• Format: Hardback
• Language: English
• Publisher: Hart Publishing

Description:

This handbook addresses the special importance and highly technical nature of pharmaceutical, biological, and chemical patents—particularly in European and German patent law. It explores recurring problems in interpretation and scope, including structural alterations such as polymorphism and enantiomerism, and how these may be treated as novel (or as part of the state of the art). It also discusses the legal and policy questions around patenting new medical uses, even where a substance itself is already known, and highlights practical challenges such as accessibility and bioethics.

Key Features:

• Focused analysis of pharmaceutical, biological, and chemical patents in a European context
• Explains technical patent concepts with legal implications (e.g., polymorphism, enantiomerism)
• Addresses novelty and “state of the art” questions in patentability assessments
• Discusses second medical use patents and policy considerations
• Uses case law and decisions (including ECJ-related topics) to illustrate commentary

Coverage:

• European and German patent law issues in pharma/biotech/chemistry
• Scope of protection and how patent families interrelate
• Absolute substance protection and its consequences
• Case-law illustration, including ECJ-related contexts (e.g., “broccoli” and “tomato” patents; embryonic stem cells)
• Practical relevance for in-house and external counsel working with EU-facing products

About the Authors:

The book is authored by Marco Stief, Maximilian Haedicke and Annelie Wünsche, specialists in European and German patent law, with particular emphasis on pharmaceutical, biological and chemical subject matter.

Why buy this book?

• Because pharma/biotech/chemical patents are “high stakes + high complexity,” and small classification details can change enforceability
• Because it links technical features (like polymorphs and stereochemistry) to concrete legal outcomes
• Because it supports practitioners with jurisprudence-led reasoning and real-world relevance for EU markets

Keywords:

pharmaceutical patents, biological patents, chemical patents, patent law, European patent law, German patent law, polymorphism, enantiomerism, second medical use patents, scope of protection, state of the art, novelty, ECJ case law

Target Audience:

patent attorneys, IP lawyers, in-house counsel, pharmaceutical companies, biotech companies, chemical companies, technology transfer offices, legal researchers

Genre:

intellectual property law, patent law, pharmaceutical law, biotechnology law, legal handbook, practitioner reference

Q&A

Does the price include shipping?
Yes — the price includes worldwide shipping. Card/PayPal accepted, simple secure checkout.

Is this a current edition?
Yes, published January 2026 by Hart Publishing.

Who is this book written for?
Patent attorneys, IP lawyers, in-house counsel and technology transfer offices working with pharmaceutical, biotech and chemical patents.

Does it focus on a specific jurisdiction?
Yes, primarily European and German patent law, with case law including ECJ-related decisions.

Is it suitable for law libraries and institutional orders?
Yes, institutional invoicing is available and CLNZ Books ships to law libraries and firms worldwide.

Where can I buy Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Patents: A Handbook?
You can order this title directly from CLNZ Books at clnzbooks.com.

📘 Learn more about shipping, delivery times, and returns, see our FAQ here.