Book review

Participants at last week's SPC Seminar may have enjoyed the chance to chat and perhaps share a pleasant glass of wine with Bird & Bird partner Trevor Cook, whose second edition of Pharmaceuticals Biotechnology and the Law has just been published by LexisNexis. Described by the publishers as "the definitive guide to the law in Europe relating to pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and their related areas such as medical devices", this second edition, arriving some six-and-a-bit years after the first, is an impressive monument to the author's industry and enthusiasm as well as his expertise in the field. 

Sadly for many intellectual property lawyers of the old school, a depressingly large proportion of this book is taken up with regulatory issues: while the need for regulation of the sector is unassailable and its absence unthinkable, when one realises how much in terms of time, effort and resources must be invested in regulatory compliance, it is tempting to speculate as to whether -- if the sector could start again with a clean slate -- a more streamlined and functionally efficient means of regulation could not be devised.

Written primarily from the perspective of harmonised EU law, the book does not neglect those areas which, remaining unharmonised, remain within the realm of English law.  It is well researched, clearly written and handsomely produced.  A special treat for readers of this weblog is that Trevor has kindly devoted some 28 pages to the treatment of SPCs -- for which, many thanks!

Bibliographical details: publication date, January 2009. Hardback. ISBN 9780406914415.  Price £200.  STOP PRESS: the book now has its own web page here.