The foundation laid by the sequencing of the human genome and subsequent developments in a number of areas such as the post-translation of modification of proteins have given researchers a much better understanding of biological mechanisms and how they are affected in different disease states.
As diseases become better understood, new therapeutic avenues are opened up to researchers. This allied with the increased use of information technology at all stages of the development of the diagnosis and treatment of disease, means that there are still significant opportunities for companies. It is likely that diagnostics will play an increasingly important role, not just in the identification of a disease state but also in the monitoring of the progress of disease and response of the patient to treatment.
Developments in the industry have brought new issues to the fore. The use of stem cells in research has raised public awareness of many ethical issues. There are very significant concerns about the origin of stem cell lines used in research which has led to legislative changes in a number of countries. Similarly, gene therapy has been the subject of debate and is likely to continue to be so. Managing ethical issues and public perception represent challenges for companies and researchers alike.
Such issues are only a small part of the scientific, ethical and business challenges facing the fast moving biosciences industry. At Bird & Bird we have built our Life Sciences Group on the belief that it is important to understand these issues and to be able to take them into account in a practical commercial way when advising our clients.
We have an enviable reputation acting for a range of companies from those spun out of universities through to large international biosciences and pharmaceutical companies.
We provide a full range of corporate, commercial and dispute resolution services to our client base. Our international reach ensures that we are well placed to provide advice to clients operating on an international level.