Amendments to Chinese patent law went into effect on June 1, 2021. Some of these amendments have important consequences for life sciences patent practice in China. The most striking change is the establishment of a system for resolving patent disputes in the life sciences.
While similar to the Hatch-Waxman process, the Chinese law also encompasses biologics and traditional Chinese medicines in addition to small-chemical drugs. Amendments are also directed at extensions of patent terms under particular circumstances. This presentation will include a description of the new Chinese system and a comparison to the US system.