Participants in a recent webinar looked at how the coronavirus is changing the way we look at clinical trials and whether new EU COVID-19 guidance might hold lessons for future approaches to study design.

There is much talk around the importance of clinical trials in finding new treatments and vaccines for COVID-19 patients, but observational studies in clinical practice also have a vital role to play, including the impact on pregnant women. 

Switzerland’s medicines agency has cleared Ferring’s carbetocin for preventing uterine haemorrhage under the Marketing Authorization for Global Health Products (MAGHP) procedure, which is intended to accelerate the approval of new products in low- and middle-income countries. 

In addition to our daily in-depth coverage of key events relating to the coronavirus, we’re bringing you a periodic round-up of other pandemic developments. This edition covers events at the national and EU level. 

Can an SPC be awarded on the basis of a patent that does not give the actual name of the substance to be protected? A judgement from the EU's top court says it can, provided that a "skilled person" would be able to identify the substance from the functional claims in the patent.

Can an SPC be awarded on the basis of a patent that does not give the actual name of the substance to be protected? A judgement from the EU's top court says it can, provided that a "skilled person" would be able to identify the substance from the functional claims in the patent.