SpringerBriefs in Biotech Patents present timely reports of intellectual properties (IP) issues and patent aspects in the field of biotechnology. This new volume in the series focuses on the particular IP issues of therapeutics, vaccines and molecular diagnostics. The first chapter concentrates on basics principles for protecting antibody compounds. Additional ways to create follow-up protection for antibody therapeutics are also discussed. The second chapter gives an overview of the patent landscape in molecular diagnostics, and discusses issues of patentability with respect to the different technologies and compounds used therein. The third chapter gives a broad overview of areas of law that are particularly relevant to the patenting of peptide vaccines and therapeutic peptides as products and in compositions. The scope of patentable subject matter is discussed, as it has been the focus of much wrangling and debate in the courts.