Richard Jenkinson, a Senior Associate in our Competition Law Team, shares his insights on the transformative impact of Research and Development Block Exemptions.

R&D Block Exemptions are paving the way for ground-breaking R&D cooperation, such as joint development agreements entered into by pharmaceuticals companies seeking to pool resources for discovering new drugs and bringing them to market. These exemptions offer businesses a competitive edge by fostering a conducive environment for innovation and experimentation. Block Exemptions also facilitate collaborative projects, enabling organisations to pool resources, share knowledge, and accelerate the pace of development. The differences emerging between the UK and EU regimes are likely to have an impact on commercial strategies, for example when and where new products are first brought to market.   

Understanding the regulatory landscape ensures that companies can harness the full potential of these exemptions while staying compliant.

Click the link below to read more on the Competition Law Journal:  

The UK and EU competition rules for research and development agreements: falling out of lockstep in: Competition Law Journal Volume 22 Issue 3 (2023) (elgaronline.com)