{"id":383763,"date":"2026-01-22T07:46:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T07:46:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/383763\/"},"modified":"2026-01-22T07:46:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T07:46:09","slug":"the-antibody-series-3-antibody-code-names-in-claims-why-acz885-is-not-sufficient-to-define-the-antibody-patent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/383763\/","title":{"rendered":"The Antibody Series #3 | Antibody Code Names In Claims: Why “ACZ885” Is Not Sufficient To Define The Antibody – Patent"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nHGF is one of Europe’s largest firms of intellectual property specialists in Europe, with 21 offices across the UK, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Ireland. The firm’s trade mark attorneys, patent attorneys and IP solicitors provide an integrated IP solution for clients. <\/p>\n

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\n The Boards of Appeal of the EPO (BoA) are the appeal body that reviews EPO decisions. \n <\/p>\n


\n United Kingdom
\n Intellectual Property \n <\/p>\n


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The Boards of Appeal of the EPO (BoA) are the
\nappeal body that reviews EPO decisions. In this case, they examined
\na claim that identified an antibody by an internal code name.<\/p>\n

The real case: Your team is working with a
\nclinical antibody known internally by a code name. You draft claims
\nfor a new indication and put this code name in the claim because,
\ninternally, there is no doubt about the molecule being
\ntargeted.<\/p>\n

Claim 1 : (alternative claim)

\n“1. A medicament for use in the treatment of an
\nauto-inflammatory syndrome in a patient in need thereof, the
\nmedicament comprising the human IL-1beta binding antibody ACZ885
\nand wherein said auto-inflammatory syndrome is Tumor Necrosis
\nFactor Receptor Associated Periodic Syndrome (TRAPS), and wherein
\nsaid antibody is parenterally administered at a dose between 0.1-50
\nmg of said antibody per kg body weight of the patient.”<\/p>\n

Beginning of the story: Lack of clarity under
\nArticle 84 EPC. This was not the main issue in the first instance.
\nOn appeal, the question became simple and decisive: can a third
\nparty know, from reading the patent, what exactly
\n“ACZ885” is?<\/p>\n

The BoA’s teaching: An internal code name
\nis not sufficient to define a claim, unless the file gives it a
\nprecise and unambiguous technical meaning. In this case, partial
\nelements, such as sequence fragments and a reference to another
\ndocument, were not sufficient to clearly identify the antibody
\ncovered by the claim.<\/p>\n

Practical drafting tip: if you use an antibody
\ncode name in a claim, explicitly link it to a verifiable definition
\nin the application, e.g., complete VH and VL or complete heavy and
\nlight chains with SEQ IDs, or a clearly identified combination of
\nCDRs, or an epitope and an objective test with a quantified
\nthreshold, otherwise avoid the code name in the claim and only
\nclaim what a third party can verify.<\/p>\n

The content of this article is intended to provide a general
\nguide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
\nabout your specific circumstances.<\/p>\n

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