Morgan Lewis on Life Sciences
April/May 2004

In this Issue:

• Protective Provisions in Pharmaceutical/Biotech Strategic Alliances:
  Strategic alliances continue to be an important component of the product development and commercialization process in the life sciences industry. These transactions are highly individualized and unique and, as such, can be used creatively by the parties to advance their particular needs and goals. If you are a large pharma or big biotech company looking to acquire products or intellectual property from a smaller company, one of your main objectives is to maximize your rights to that technology and thus to protect your investment.
• New Medicare Legislation Restructures Device Industry Regulatory Landscape:
  While substantial publicity and analysis of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 highlight the law’s generally favorable pharmaceutical and biotechnology provisions, the new Medicare legislation also includes dramatic new coverage and reimbursement provisions likely to cause significant changes in the medical device and supply industries.
• FTC's Bold Prescriptions for Patent System May Have Adverse Effects for Pharmaceuticals:
  In the first installment of its report exploring the role of the patent laws and the antitrust laws in promoting innovation, the FTC recommends several far-reaching changes to the patent laws. Like an earlier report in which it made legislative recommendations, its July 2002 report entitled Generic Drug Entry Prior to Patent Expiration, the report is issued by the Commission itself, not its staff.
• Quick Hits
• Events, Speeches & Articles

For the full story, please view the PDF.