This week's edition of Life Sciences weekly highlights includes news that the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published guidance on safeguarding human genomic data, setting out new requirements for secure access, international transfers and risk management for government-funded genomic data holders. Also included is news that the European Commission has published its July 2026 infringement package, outlining enforcement action against Member States for failing to comply with a range of EU laws, including measures affecting pharmacies, drugstore pricing and other regulatory obligations.

This week's edition of Life Sciences weekly highlights includes news analysis by Mewburn Ellis of the decision to grant partial declaratory relief to pharmaceutical giant Merck KGaA following Merck, Sharpe & Dohme’s use of MERCK marks in the UK. Also included is news that the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court dismissed an application for injunctive relief in a dispute regarding a device used in the treatment of kidney stones (Well Lead Medical v CJ Medical), the MHRA has published an update and report on digital mental health technologies and possible regulation, the US FDA released a final rule on laboratory developed tests, the EU is preparing for negotiation of a global disclosure regime for genetic resources patents, the UK government launched its second five-year national action plan on antimicrobial resistance and news that the EMA opened a public consultation on the use of real-world data in non-interventional studies to generate real-world evidence, among other key news stories.

This week's edition of Life Sciences weekly highlights includes analysis by Taylor Wessing LLP of damages quantification methodologies in the long-running Merck v Merck Sharpe & Dohme trade mark infringement case. Also included, is several stories covering the European Commission announcing its bold Apply AI and AI in Science strategies to advance the adoption of AI in scientific research, the Commission also has launched the AI Act Service Desk and Single Information Platform to support implementation of the AI Act, the EMA has launched a survey to identify key research priorities for AI in the development and evaluation of medicines and published its European Medicines Agencies Network Data Strategy, MedTech Europe published a reflection paper responding to the Commission’s Chemicals Industry Action Plan calling for realistic transition pathways and continued access to essential chemicals like PFAS in their downstream use for critical medical technologies and the DHSC launched a consultation to shape new regulations on the sale and composition of tobacco, vape and nicotine products. Further news includes stories that the British health technology industry body (ABHI) published its response to an EU consultation on proposed revisions to the EU medical device legislation, the EU pharmaceutical industry called for refinement of certain provisions in the EU’s General Pharmaceutical Legislation reform package, the UK High Court found that the DHSC was still entitled to some damages for Medpro’s breach of contract despite the DHSC failing to reject the PPE gowns within time, the MHRA halved clinical trial approval times to 41 days following regulatory reforms and digital platforms introduced in 2023, and the Commission has formally withdrawn the AI Liability Act; among other stories.

A life beneficiary is a person entitled to receive income, enjoyment or other benefits from property under a will, trust or settlement for the duration of their lifetime, after which the property passes to another beneficiary (often called a remainderman or capital beneficiary). The term is descriptive rather than a technical statutory definition and is used consistently across England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland in private client, trusts and succession practice.In England and Wales and Northern Ireland, a life beneficiary typically holds a life interest under a trust: they may receive rental income, dividends or have a right to occupy property, but usually have no right to the underlying capital. In Ireland, the term is similarly used in wills and trusts to describe the holder of a life interest.In Scots law, an equivalent concept arises where a beneficiary has a liferent, with another person holding the fee (capital). Across all four jurisdictions, key issues include the extent of the life beneficiary’s rights, duties of trustees, tax treatment, variation or termination of the interest, and protection of the interests of ultimate beneficiaries.

A pooled fund that is operated by a life company. Such funds are similar to unit trusts except that investors own a life assurance policy rather than units.

At a given age, life expectancy is the average number of years that a male or female aged x will live thereafter, and is calculated using age and gender-specific mortality rates at ages x, x+1, x+2, etc. Life expectancy is calculated by a number of bodies, including the Office of National Statistics (ONS) and Institute of Actuaries (IoA). There is a death clock at www.deathclock.com for personal use.

This Practice Note contains links to national life tables and projected life expectation tables. National life tables The national life tables, which are produced annually for the UK and its constituent countries, provide period expectation of life statistics. Period life expectancy is the average number of additional years a person can be expected to live for if they experience the age-specific mortality rates of the given area and time period for the rest of

A life insurance trust usually involves either: an assignment of an insurance policy together with a declaration of trust or the creation of a settlement containing an express assignment of the policy.

This TRUST is made on [date] Parties 1 [settlor] of [address] (the Settlor) and 2 [original trustees] of [addresses] (the Original Trustees) Background (A) The Settlor is absolutely entitled to the life insurance policy (the Policy), the particulars of which are contained in Schedule 1. (B) The Settlor wishes to assign the Policy to the Original Trustees to be held by them on the following trusts. This Deed provides: 1 Definitions and interpretation 1.1 In this Trust: Beneficiaries • means (subject to the provisions of clause 8) the following persons: (a) the Settlor’s [ [widow OR widower] whether or not remarried]; (b) the descendants of the Settlor; and (c) the spouses and any widow or widower (whether or not remarried) of the descendants of the Settlor, and Beneficiary has a corresponding meaning; Charitable • means charitable (and exclusively charitable) according to English law; Charity • means a trust, corporation, association, society or other institution established only for charitable purposes and Charities has a corresponding meaning; [Spouse • or spouse includes: (a) a civil partner registered under the Civil Partnership Act 2004; and (b) a

The Prudential Regulation Authority has warned that the rapid growth of Funded Reinsurance (FundedRe) as a source of capital may be benefiting from regulatory  treatment as a reinsurance arrangement under Solvency UK that understates the embedded investment risks. The PRA  will seek input from stakeholders as to whether the investment component of Funded Re should be ‘unbundled’ from the longevity reinsurance for valuation in the Solvency UK balance sheet.

An entitlement to trust income or to the use of trust assets, but not the capital. Also called an possession'>interest in possession.

This trust is made on [date] Parties 1 [settlor] of [address] (the Settlor) and 2 [original trustees] of [addresses] (the Original Trustees) Background The Settlor wishes to make this Trust for the benefit of [name] (the Principal Beneficiary) and has transferred to the Original Trustees the assets described in Schedule 1 to be held on the following trusts. This Deed provides: 1 Definitions and interpretation 1.1 In this Trust: Beneficiaries • means (subject to clause 5) the following persons: (a) the Principal Beneficiary; (b) the Principal Beneficiary’s [spouse and on the Principal Beneficiary’s death, their [widow OR widower] ]; (c) the descendants of the Principal Beneficiary; (d) the spouses, widows and widowers (whether or not remarried) of the descendants of the Principal Beneficiary, and Beneficiary has a corresponding meaning; Charitable • means charitable (and exclusively charitable) according to English law; Charity • means a trust, corporation, association, society or other institution established only for charitable purposes and Charities has a corresponding meaning; interest in possession • means the present right of present enjoyment of any property comprised in the Trust Fund; [Spouse • or spouse includes: (a) a civil partner registered under the Civil Partnership Act 2004;