C5 (UK) will be
holding its 17th Forum on Biotech Patenting on October 20-21, 2009 in London,
United Kingdom.  The conference
will allow attendees to collect up-to-date information and insights on:

• Recent changes in
policy and patentability criteria: 
Hear directly from the EPO;
• The latest EPO
decisions impacting key aspects of biotech patenting such as methods of surgery
and new standards on double patenting and prior art;
• Major U.S. case
law developments and how they have radically shifted the status quo for
biotech, including In re Bilski, Ariad, and In re Kubin;
• The latest
developments on second medical use and dosing regimens claims and an assessment
of the Enlarged Board's upcoming decision;
• Update on biotechnology
patenting developments in China and India; and
• The art of
cross-jurisdiction patent litigation management and strategy.

In particular, C5
faculty will offer presentations on the following topics:

• Keynote address:  A judicial view on biotech patenting litigation
with Lord Hoffmann of Chedworth;
• Criteria of the
EPO and changes in rules:  Hear
from the EPO on how they plan to raise the bar in biotech;
• Best practice for
divisional applications and responding to search reports;
• Key European case
law developments:  Updates from the
EPO and National Courts;
• Major case law
and policy developments in U.S. biotech;
• Assessing the
impact of In re Bilski on patenting
of biomarkers and treatment/diagnostic methods;
• Securing patents
for antibodies and antigens against a backdrop of heightened non-oobviousness requirements;
• European and U.S.
developments in obtaining and protecting biosimilars patents;
• How has the WARF
decision been applied in subsequent stem cells cases?
• Assessing the potential
impact of the Enlarged Board's decision on second medical use claims and dosing
regimens;
• New standards
European and U.S. standards in written description enablement and sufficiency
of disclosure;
• Analysis of
recent decisions impacting on patent term extension;
• FTO strategies
for vaccines, antibodies, protein therapies and other biotech products;
• Developments in
patent litigation procedures and optimal cross-jurisdictional litigation
management strategies; and
• Update on biotech
patenting developments in China, India and Brazil.

An additional
post-conference workshop, entitled "Tips and Traps in Drafting Claims and
Specifications for Biotech Inventions," will be offered on October 22,
2009.

A complete brochure
for this conference, including an agenda, list of speakers, and registration
form can be requested here.

The registration
fee for the conference is £1608.85 ($2,283.07), for the conference and workshop
£2067.70 ($2,957.43), and for the workshop alone £573.85 ($820.78).  Those interested in registering for the
conference can do so here.