In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a pharma company’s broad functional patent claims and set important precedent in the process. These claims offer “middle ground” protection between narrow structural claims and potentially invalid broad genus claims. This article will explain what means-plus-function (MPF) claims are, why they’re gaining renewed attention in pharma and biotech, and how they can fit into a comprehensive patent strategy. First, MPF claims are complementary to structural claims, not a replacement. For pharmaceutical executives evaluating patent strategy, now is the time to ask whether MPF claims belong in your portfolio.