Intellectual property articles from across Nature Portfolio

Patients need the patent system to spur the investment necessary for the continued development of life-saving diagnostics and therapies.

Obtaining European patent protection for medical uses of known products is not a key factor limiting repurposing activity.

European Patent Office data show an increasing number of patents for new medical uses of known products.

A process for the non-arbitrary determination of obviousness based on examining actual patenting practices of large groups could improve outcomes.

Drug repurposing has been proposed as a strategy to develop new therapies that has fewer risks, lower costs and shorter timelines than developing completely new drugs. However, the potential of this strategy has not been as widely realized as hoped, in part owing to legal and regulatory barriers. Here, we highlight these barriers and consider how they could be overcome.