Healthcare & Life Sciences Insights
Discover Latham’s latest insights into the commercial, regulatory, and legal developments shaping the global healthcare and life sciences landscape.
Latham’s cross-disciplinary team delivers insightful, practical guidance and sophisticated representation to a full spectrum of healthcare and life sciences companies across the globe, on every type of transaction or dispute a company may face.
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Latham Advises Foundation Healthcare on S$242 Million IPO
Latham Advises Dreampath Diagnostics on Acquisition by Halma PLC
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Latham Dominates in Legal 500 US Guide
Latham again earns more Tier 1 rankings than any other firm.
Latham Recognized With Seven LMG Life Sciences EMEA Awards 2026
The firm was honored with major awards, including practice Firm of the Year, Impact Deal, and Rising Star awards.
Latham Leads All Firms in Chambers USA 2026 Guide
Latham earns more rankings than any other firm for the 12th consecutive year, dominating the market once again in both practice and individual rankings.
The Book of Jargon® Series
Pay for Delay
patent settlement agreements (commercial agreements to settle patent-related disputes between originator and generic companies) that result in delayed market entry of generic medicine in exchange for benefits transferred from the originator to the generic company. The U.S. Supreme Court decided in FTC v. Actavis (2013) that a payment from an originator to a generic company to resolve patent-related disputes should be analysed considering the rule of reason test. The European Commission Directorate General for Competition has imposed several fines on pharmaceutical companies for delaying market entry of generic products. See Reverse Payment.
Scientific Exchange
the exchange of information about an investigational Drug or Device by the product developer that is not considered by the FDA to be promotion due to the independent scientific or medical circumstances of the exchange. Generally speaking, information shared in the context of Scientific Exchange must be non-promotional, shared by science professionals and in a forum meant for scientific discussion. The FDA has been criticized, however, for its failure to provide specific guidance on what constitutes Scientific Exchange.
Endogenous
produced within, or originating from within, the body or one of its parts.
Excipient
an inactive ingredient intentionally added to a therapeutic or diagnostic product that is not intended to exert a therapeutic effect (though it may improve product delivery, such as by enhancing absorption or controlling Drug substance release). According to the FDA, Excipients may include fillers, extenders, diluents, wetting agents, solvents, emulsifiers, preservatives, flavors, absorption enhancers, sustained-release matrices and coloring agents, but do not include process- or product-related impurities such as degradation products, leachates or residual solvents or extraneous contaminants.
Local Coverage Determination (LCD)
a Coverage determination by a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) regarding whether a particular service or item is reasonable and necessary under Medicare within such MAC’s geographical jurisdiction. MACs publish LCDs to provide guidance to the public and medical community within the MAC’s jurisdictions on the terms and conditions of Coverage for services and items. Contractors develop LCDs by considering medical literature, the advice of local medical societies and medical consultants, public comments, and comments from the provider community.