Mr Justice Meade has today handed down judgment in Accord v Novartis [2026] EWHC 2127 (Pat), finding Novartis’ SPC concerning a combination of valsartan and sacubitril to be valid. Novartis markets a product containing valsartan and sacubitril under the brand name Entresto which is authorised in the UK for the treatment of heart failure.

The judgment is the latest consideration of a plausibility attack on a claim to the product per se, and additionally addresses issues of classical obviousness, technical contribution, collocation, and SPC issues.

Tom Mitcheson KC, Stuart Baran and Bethany Halbard acted for Novartis.

Tom Hinchliffe KC and Thomas Lunt acted for Accord.