title: A guide to drug discovery. Protecting your inventions: the patent system.
abstract: Whether you work for a multi-national pharmaceutical company, a biotech start-up or a university, a knowledge of the patent system is essential for understanding how best to protect the fruits of your research. The aim of this article is to give an overview of what a patent is, how you might get one and the rights that a patent confers.
authors.affiliation: Frank B. Dehn & Co., Patent and Trademark Attorneys, 179 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4V 4EL, UK. philipw@frankbdehn.co.uk
authors.forename: Philip M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Webber
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D010330:Patents as Topic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations