EMA: Playing the percentages

27-02-2018

EMA: Playing the percentages

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With one in two pharma brand names being rejected by the European Medicines Agency, WIPR considers how companies can prepare to give their applications the best chance of success.

In Europe, around 50% of pharmaceutical brand names are rejected by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), according to anecdotal evidence. Yes, you read that right—one in two names is dismissed, and yes, it’s the EMA that has the ultimate say.

The success of any EU trademark application depends on the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) giving it the green light. However, given the health and safety concerns around medicinal products, the pharma industry is unusual in that there is an extra hoop to jump through before a name is ultimately approved—it’s the EMA, an EU agency.

This creates a challenging environment for applicants, not least because the EMA’s Name Review Group (NRG) looks at names from a different angle from the EUIPO.


EMA, European Medicines Agency, pharmaceuticals, trademark, European Intellectual Property Office, EUIPO, EFPIA, Roger Lush, Carpmeals & Ransford

WIPR