Workshop Intellectual Property for Drug Repurposing

For academics, researchers, promovendi and postdocs.

Unlock the potential of existing medicines through strategic use of intellectual property (IP).

Drug repurposing offers significant opportunities to accelerate the development of new treatments, particularly for rare diseases. Intellectual property plays a crucial role in ensuring that repurposed therapies can be developed in a socially responsible way and ultimately reach patients.

This workshop is organised by RARE-NL in collaboration with the Netherlands Patent Office (part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs). It provides a practical introduction to intellectual property in the context of drug repurposing and the responsible development of medicines.

What you will learn and what to expect

This interactive workshop will give you practical insights into:

• The basic principles of intellectual property and patent protection relevant to drug repurposing
• How IP and regulatory exclusivities influence development strategies and patient access
• The use of second medical use patents and other protection strategies in repurposing
• How to search and interpret patent information using publicly available databases
• How IP can be used strategically to support responsible development, collaborations, and follow-up funding

The session includes practical examples, case discussions, and opportunities to ask project-specific questions. Part of the workshop will be hands-on; participants attending on site are encouraged to bring a laptop or tablet, as working with patent databases is not suitable on a smartphone. No prior IP experience is required.

Why RARE-NL organises this workshop

RARE-NL supports researchers and project teams in translating academic and clinical repurposing research into real-world patient access under socially responsible conditions. While IP in drug repurposing is often approached from a legal or commercial perspective, it can also serve as a strategic tool to enable responsible development, sustainable licensing models, and long-term accessibility of therapies.

Understanding IP early in the development process helps projects make informed decisions, strengthen their position for collaborations and follow-up funding, and ultimately unlock the full potential of drug repurposing.

Practical information

Location (on site): Radboudumc Experience Center, M260.-1.102, Waalbrug A, route 7

Date: 14 April 2026

Time: 15:00 – 17:00

Speaker: Dr. Britta Helwig, Advisor Intellectual Property | Research & Valorisation, Netherlands Patent Office

Format: Hybrid (on site at Radboudumc and online participation possible)

For more information and registration please click here