On 1 December 2025, the UK Government announced a “landmark” UK-US pharmaceutical deal. Under the deal, the UK claims to be (so far) the only country to secure zero-percent tariffs on pharmaceuticals exported to the US for the next three years. In return, the UK has committed to increase its
Continue Reading Landmark UK-US Pharmaceutical DealOn September 17, 2025, the German Supervisory Authorities (Konferenz der unabhängigen Datenschutzaufsichtsbehörden des Bundes und der Länder, DSK) published new guidelines and recommendations addressing the complex requirements for transferring personal data, particularly health data (including health data contained in biomaterials), to countries outside of the European Economic
Continue Reading New German Guidelines on GDPR Requirements for International Transfers of Health Data in Medical ResearchArtificial Intelligence (“AI”) continues to command attention as today’s prominent technological asset, revolutionizing key markets and sectors. Simultaneously, discussions of another advanced technology known as quantum computing have gained traction. Because both technologies expand the universe of problems that can be tackled by computers, one might wonder, if we have AI, do we also need quantum computing technologies? In this article, we will discuss quantum computing and how it complements AI, including its ability to enhance AI models, and conversely, also explore AI’s ability to strengthen the power of quantum computing.Continue Reading Harnessing the complementary power of AI and Quantum Computing
Germany has taken another step to improve the conditions for pharmaceutical research & development in Germany. Now, the Federal Government has adopted the “Standard Contractual Clauses” for pharmaceutical clinical trial agreements. In this blog, we discuss what the new standard clauses cover and how they will affect clinical trials in
Continue Reading Germany enacts Standard Contractual Clauses for pharmaceutical clinical trial agreements – Changes for medical device studies also on the horizon
On 31 July 2025, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”) issued a statement of policy intent relating to a service to provide early access to the Great Britain market for innovative medical devices (“Early Access Service”). Although this statement is non-binding, it indicates further efforts by the MHRA to reduce unwarranted barriers to market entry, through faster, risk-proportionate, and predictable routes to regulatory approval – in line with Action 25 of the Life Sciences Sector Plan (published on 16 July 2025).Continue Reading MHRA Issues Statement of Policy Intent Regarding Early Access to Innovative Medical Devices
On 22 July 2025, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”) published the outcome of its most recent medical device-related consultation. The MHRA also announced its intention to consult further on the indefinite recognition of CE-marked medical devices in Great Britain, with this consultation expected to take place later in 2025.Continue Reading MHRA Announces Consultation Response on Reforms to GB Pre-Market Medical Device Regulation
On July 7, 2025, the European Commission presented its Roadmap Towards Nature Credits, setting the blueprint for biodiversity certification in the EU. The Communication was also accompanied by a Q&A and a call for feedback by 30 September 2025.
In short, nature credits
Continue Reading An EU Biodiversity Market by 2027? The new EU’s Roadmap towards Nature CreditsBiotech companies are always searching for new ways to fund the costly and uncertain process of drug development and product launch. Over the past several years, synthetic royalty and drug development financings have become an additional option for fundraising, as traditional equity markets have remained challenging. Covington & Burling’s third
Continue Reading Synthetic Royalty and Drug Development Financings – A Funding Structure Growing in Europe
Quantum computing uses quantum mechanics principles to solve certain complex mathematical problems faster than classical computers. Whilst classical computers use binary “bits” to perform calculations, quantum computers use quantum bits (“qubits”). The value of a bit can only be zero or one, whereas a qubit can exist as zero, one, or a combination of both states (a phenomenon known as superposition) allowing quantum computers to solve certain problems exponentially faster than classical computers.
The potential applications of quantum computing are wide-ranging and industry-agnostic. For instance, they could be used to enhance the analysis of large, complex data sets, optimize supply-chain processes, and enhance artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies and improve machine learning algorithms.
Given the potential applications, quantum computing could have a significant impact on companies in the life sciences sector, and more specifically could be used to improve:Continue Reading Quantum Computing and its Impact on the Life Science Industry
Raising capital to discover, develop, and commercialize new drugs has always been a regular feature for life sciences companies, and the current environment of tight equity markets and lower company valuations has caused significant strains. In response, many European life sciences businesses are turning to non-dilutive financing options that have
Continue Reading Non-Dilutive Financing: The U.S. Trend Catching on in Europe’s Life Sciences Sector