Over the past year, the landscape of pharmaceutical and biotech patent litigation in Europe has undergone notable transformation. The activation of the Unified Patent Court inaugurated a new chapter in European patent litigation. The landscape has also been shaped by key decisions from the European Board of Appeal and legislative reforms in the pharmaceutical sector, introducing fresh challenges and strategies for patent practitioners. In this conference opening assessment, our 2024 co-chairs will delve into these significant developments, offering a comprehensive analysis of the evolving trends and their implications for life science patent law in 2024.