Patenticulars

World Health Day 2025: Reflecting on newborn and maternal health through patent knowledge

World Health Day on 7 April provides an opportunity to raise awareness of pressing health challenges and the solutions to overcome them. For 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) has selected “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures” as its theme, a reflection on newborn and maternal health.  These two topics are at the forefront of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3: Good-Health and Wellbeing) and essential to improve global health outcomes.

Although deaths from pregnancy complications have declined by 38% and neonatal deaths by 44% over the last two decades, newborn and maternal health remain a serious health concern — particularly in fragile humanitarian settings. The WHO estimates that as of 2020, around 800 women die every day from preventable pregnancy-related causes, with 95% of these deaths occurring in low to middle-income countries. Similarly, in 2022, 2.3 million newborns died within the first month of life. 

Innovating towards a healthier world

A wide range of inventions have been developed to address these challenges. To mark World Health Day 2025, we highlight several life-changing technologies in the field of newborn health and show you how to explore the IP rights behind them using the EPO’s patent information tools.

Childhood obesity is a significant concern for mothers. EP2026791 relates to a nutritional supplement for pregnant women, designed to reduce the risk of obesity in infancy or early childhood. According to the European Patent Register, the patent was granted, however, the scope of protection was changed after grant following an opposition proceeding brought by a third party.

Fig.1: Extract from the EP All documents view in the European Patent Register showing that the patent was maintained in amended form after an opposition procedure

If the scope of protection changes after an opposition proceeding, the EPO re-publishes the granted patent with kind code B2. You can find this document either in Espacenet under “Published as” or in the European Patent Register in the “EP About this file” view under “Publications” (see Fig. 2).

Fig.2: Overview on publications in the “About this file” view of the European Patent Register, including a link to the B2 document

EP3041450 covers a thermo-regulated transportable incubator, designed for newborns and configured to be ventilated by an independent medical device to facilitate medical examination. According to the legal event information in Espacenet, the patent was granted and no opposition was filed by a third party after grant. However, the patent lapsed in several member states following grant.

Fig.3: Legal event data for EP3041450 in Espacenet

To find out where the patent is still in force, go to the European Patent Register. In the “Legal status” view, you can see that the IP right is in force in Germany, France, the United Kingdom (UK) and Italy. For more information, click on one of the countries to access the national register, such as that of the UK as shown in Fig. 4. You can see that the annual renewal fees have been paid and as the next one is due in September 2025, you can conclude that the patent is still in force.

Fig.4: Overview on designated contracting states in the European Patent Register with a link to national patent registers

EP4358845 covers a belt that monitors the vital signs of pre-term infants. This belt is intended for neonates and premature babies born after a pregnancy of less than 37 weeks, who are typically placed in an incubator for continuous monitoring. According to the European Patent Register, a request for unitary effect was filed on 14 February 2025 and registered on 20 February 2025.

Fig.5: UP All documents section, showing that a request for unitary effect was filed on 14 February 2025 and registered on 20 February 2025

We hope that this article has provided a valuable overview —not only of the critical issues surrounding newborn and maternal health in recognition of World Health Day 2025, but also of how to use the EPO’s search tools to access vital information on related patents.