New Horizons in Life Sciences Law: Forefront of IP Laws and Emerging Trends in Economic Security

The legal landscape surrounding life sciences and healthcare is at a major turning point. Two areas in particular demand attention: intellectual property laws and economic security.

In this seminar, leading practitioners will provide a comprehensive look at the latest developments in both fields across two sessions. The first session introduces the latest trends of IP laws in the life sciences sector through three key topics: recent case law on the scope of a patent during its extended term, new developments in Japan’s patent linkage system, and the protection for product design of pharmaceuticals and medical devices under the Unfair Competition Prevention Act.

The second session addresses economic security law, an area of growing importance in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and heightened geopolitical risk. Attorneys with hands-on experience conducting investment screening at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will candidly discuss the realities of the review process and the key points that companies and funds should keep in mind, drawing also on the investment suspension recommendation issued this April in relation to the take-private transaction for Makino Milling Machine—the first such recommendation in 18 years.

Through these two sessions, we aim to offer a framework for navigating the next chapter of life sciences law.