Spring direct naar de hoofdnavigatie of de inhoud

Life Sciences

In life sciences, including biotechnology, V.O. represents clients in a broad range of traditional pharmaceutical as well as biological technologies, including immunology, virology, molecular biology, animal and plant genetics, gene therapy, protein chemistry, pharmacology, enzymology, bioinformatics and others. Specific areas of expertise include among others diagnostics, recombinant cytokines, antibody technology, personalized medicine, biomarkers, recombinant antigens and vaccines, and antisense and small RNA technology.

From start-ups to multinationals

Our client base in the life sciences and biotechnology sector ranges from biotech start-ups to multinationals. Working for and with biotech start-ups requires a special approach, as balancing research and commercial development may be complex. The long-term IP strategy, for instance, in which the patent portfolio should be attractive to possible investors and licensees, sometimes seems at odds with the short-term company policy. We know exactly how to provide solutions that are workable and effective.

Renowned experts

Our patent attorneys include renowned experts in biotech and life sciences. Some have worked in the life sciences industry, for instance as researcher. All of them are highly dedicated to their profession, and see it as their mission to help companies to build up a sound and balanced IP portfolio that enables these companies to keep up the good work.

Full-service partner

We provide all IP services: drafting and prosecuting patent applications all over the world. We assist you in defending or attacking patents; in infringement suits and in opposition or invalidity proceedings. Other fields of activity are Freedom To Operate analysis, IP audits and Supplementary Protection Certificates for pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Particularly for biotech start-ups we commit ourselves to supporting you throughout the different developmental stages of your company. We help you to integrate IP into your operational management and materialize the knowledge assets of your company.

Contact our experts

Jetze Beeksma

Jetze Beeksma

  • European and Dutch Patent Attorney, European Patent Litigator
  • Partner
More experts

News

Trade secrets: the importance of discretion

Annelies de Bosch Kemper-de Hilster, Head of Legal at V.O., explains why trade secrets play an important role within organizations.Continue reading

T 873/24 and the reach of G 1/24 claim interpretation in added-matter analysis (Board of Appeal 3.3.05) 

In T 873/24 (Board of Appeal 3.3.05, oral proceedings 3 February 2026), the Board indicated that it would refer questions to the Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBA) on whether (and how) the Enlarged Board’s claim-interpretation guidance in G 1/24 extends to the assessment of added subject-matter under Article 123(2) EPC (and, by implication, Article 76(1) […]Continue reading

Düsseldorf Local Division adopts The Hague’s four-step test for infringement by equivalence and applies a structured “feature-by-feature function” analysis 

In its decision in Wonderland v Cybex (UPC_CFI_807/2024 and UPC_CFI_334/2025, Local Division Düsseldorf, 27 May 2026), the Düsseldorf panel addressed — in detail — the assessment of patent infringement by equivalent means under Art. 69 EPC and the Protocol.Continue reading

Events

BIO International Convention 2026

San Diego Convention Center, Harbor Drive, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

BIO International Convention is the largest and most comprehensive event for biotechnology, representing the full ecosystem of biotech with over 20,000 industry leaders from across the globe.

Continue reading