Intellectual property & trade stories

Sep 17, 2026

US weighs allowing most pharma licensing deals with China

The US is developing rules for pharmaceutical companies investing in China that would likely preserve their ability to strike most licensing deals for Chinese drugs, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Sep 17, 20262 sources

Jul 27, 2026

Circle Acquires Nearly 1,000 Blockchain Patents from IBM, Becomes Largest U.S. Holder

IBM's blockchain patent portfolio — spanning over 680 patent families in banking, insurance, and cloud security — was acquired by Circle Internet Group in July 2026, making it the largest U.S. holder of blockchain patents.

Jul 27, 20263 sources

Circle Acquires Nearly 1,000 Blockchain Patents from IBM, Becomes Largest U.S. Holder

Circle Internet Group announced the acquisition of IBM's blockchain patent portfolio, comprising over 680-1,000 blockchain-related patents, making Circle the largest holder of such patents in the United States.

Jul 27, 20268 sources

Top claims

▪Pfizer announced a collaboration with Innovent Biologics in 2026 worth up to $10.5 billion covering 12 oncology programs
▪Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla stated that US drugmakers signing deals to license medicines from Chinese companies does not create a national security concern
▪The US Treasury Department is drafting rules, first reported by Reuters on September 18, 2025, for US pharmaceutical companies investing in China that would likely preserve their ability to strike most licensing deals for Chinese drugs

Subtopics

Blockchain technology2 Crypto regulation2 Institutional crypto adoption2 Stablecoins2 China trade strategy1 Government and Regulatory Policy1 Pharma1 U.S.–China relations1 US health policy & drug pricing1

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