http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1977/37/section/4APatents Act 1977An Act to establish a new law of patents applicable to future patents and applications for patents; to amend the law of patents applicable to existing patents and applications for patents; to give effect to certain international conventions on patents; and for connected purposes.1979-04-30texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-02-20Expert Participation2025-01-01 Patents Act 1977s. 63(3)(a)Patents Act 2004s. 2(4)s. 17(1)Patents Act 1977s. 63(3)(b) and wordPatents Act 2004s. 2(4)s. 17(1)Patents Act 1977s. 56(4)(a)(iiia) and wordThe Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 (Consequential Modifications) (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) Order 2006Sch. para. 2(b)art. 1(2)(b) Part I4A1A patent shall not be granted for the invention of—aa method of treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy, orba method of diagnosis practised on the human or animal body.2Subsection (1) above does not apply to an invention consisting of a substance or composition for use in any such method.3In the case of an invention consisting of a substance or composition for use in any such method, the fact that the substance or composition forms part of the state of the art shall not prevent the invention from being taken to be new if the use of the substance or composition in any such method does not form part of the state of the art.4In the case of an invention consisting of a substance or composition for a specific use in any such method, the fact that the substance or composition forms part of the state of the art shall not prevent the invention from being taken to be new if that specific use does not form part of the state of the art.S. 4A inserted (13.12.2007) by Patents Act 2004 (c. 16), ss. 1, 17(1); S.I. 2007/3396, art. 2(a)