IP Strategy Summit: Biotech & Pharma – Boston
The IP Strategy Summit: Biotech & Pharma – Boston is the premier gathering for industry leaders tackling the evolving challenges of intellectual property in biotech and pharma. As companies face increasing pressures from regulatory shifts, rising R&D costs, and market competition, securing and optimizing IP assets has never been more critical. This summit will provide essential insights into safeguarding biopharma innovations, refining patent strategies, and navigating global prosecution complexities. Experts will explore key topics such as trade secret protection, precision patenting, strategic portfolio management, and monetizing IP assets through licensing and collaborations.
Thought leaders will discuss emerging risks and opportunities in the biopharma IP landscape, helping attendees anticipate regulatory changes, adapt to new enforcement trends, and develop strategies for long-term success. Designed to foster dynamic discussions and actionable takeaways, this event offers a unique platform for biotech and pharma executives, legal professionals, and IP strategists to connect with industry leaders and gain the insights needed to navigate the future of biopharma innovation.
- Strategic Portfolio Management: Balancing Cost, Coverage, and Value in Life Sciences
- Navigating Global Patent Prosecution: Life Sciences Strategies for Complex Jurisdictions
- Precision Patenting: Drafting Strong Claims in the Biotech and Pharma Sectors
- Trade Secrets vs. Patents: Safeguarding Biopharma Innovations in High-Stakes Litigation
- Monetizing IP Assets: Licensing, Collaborations, and Alternative Revenue Streams
- Artificial Intelligence in Biotech & Pharma IP: Opportunities and Legal Challenges
- Chief IP Counsel
- Chief Legal Officer
- VP & Director of IP Strategy
- Chief, Deputy, Associate and/or Assistant General Counsel
- General Counsel
- Intellectual Property, Trademark, and Copyright Counsel
- Head of Litigation
- Director of Business and Legal Affairs
- Director/VP of Intellectual Property
- Director/VP of Licensing
- IP Counsel
- Patent Counsel
- Corporate Counsel
Agenda
One-to-One Meetings Begin. If interested in participating, email info@centerforceusa.com
In the competitive biopharma industry, adopting a strategic approach to patent portfolio management is crucial for success. This panel will provide actionable insights on optimizing global patent coverage, balancing costs with R&D budgets, and aligning patent strategies with broader business objectives. Experts will also explore methods to identify high-value assets, streamline portfolio maintenance, and evaluate ROI using advanced tools and techniques.
This panel will discuss:
- Aligning R&D investments with long-term business goals through effective patent evaluation
- Pruning underperforming patents to reduce maintenance costs and maximize portfolio value
- Managing global patent coverage while controlling expenses and addressing complexities
- Leveraging innovative tools and technologies to enhance portfolio management efficiency
Bryan Zerhusen, Ph.D., counsels innovators in the chemical and life science industries in all aspects of domestic and foreign patent preparation and prosecution. Chair of the firm’s Life Sciences Practice Group, Bryan’s clients include solo inventors, academic institutions, foreign law firms, venture firms, as well as companies ranging from start-ups to global corporations in the medical biotechnology, agricultural biotechnology, diagnostic, chemical, pharmaceutical, medical device and healthcare sectors.
In particular, Bryan routinely performs patent drafting and prosecution; counsels clients on strategic IP portfolio management; prepares patentability and freedom-to-operate searching, analysis and opinions; prosecutes patent reexaminations; conducts due diligence investigations; and provides IP litigation support. Bryan also has extensive experience negotiating and preparing agreements relevant to the life science industry, including collaborative agreements and IP licensing agreements on behalf of solo inventors, venture firms, start-ups and emerging companies.
How do you balance rising challenges and opportunities when prosecuting patents in complex global jurisdictions such as China, the EU, and India? Panelists will offer practical advice on overcoming examination hurdles, staying compliant with evolving regulatory standards, and leveraging Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) programs to streamline the process. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to protect their innovations and successfully navigate the unique patent landscapes of these key markets.
This panel will discuss:
- Best practices for overcoming examination challenges in key markets like China, the EU, and India
- Strategies for navigating the ever-changing patent regulations in international jurisdictions
- Insights into leveraging PPH programs to accelerate patent prosecution timelines
- Analyzing regional trends and risks in global patent prosecution
Scheduled One-to-One Meetings. If interested in participating, email info@centerforceusa.com
Crafting strong patent claims is crucial for safeguarding biotech and pharma innovations, particularly in transformative areas like gene editing, emerging therapies, and digital health. This panel will offer actionable strategies for structuring claims that can withstand legal scrutiny, address Section 101 challenges, and strike a balance between broad protection and enforceability.
This panel will discuss:
- Drafting precise claims for biopharma innovations, such as gene therapies and digital health products
- Navigating Section 101 challenges to ensure compliance and strengthen patent applications
- Ensuring claims are broad enough to protect core innovations while maintaining legal defensibility
- Refining claim language to enhance enforceability in litigation and licensing scenarios
As a Director, Intellectual Property at Encodia, Inc., Dmitry oversees the growing patent and trademark portfolio and aligns it with company’s business goals. Encodia is building a novel platform for enabling high-throughput protein analysis and polypeptide de novo sequencing. Working as a US patent agent for about 10 years, Dmitry has significant experience with drafting, prosecuting and analyzing patents and patent applications both in the US and internationally. Dmitry has worked both as in-house patent agent and as a patent agent within a large law firm.
Dmitry also has very extensive research experience in the life sciences and healthcare fields, and is an author of more than 30 peer-reviewed publications in international journals, including about 15 first-author publications. Dmitry was a regulatory scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Office of Biotechnology Products), evaluating potential problems that therapeutic proteins may face during manufacturing and storage. Before that, Dmitry was a postdoctoral scientist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, studying protein folding and its relevance to human diseases.
Dmitry holds a Ph.D. degree in Molecular Biophysics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), Russia, and received a B.S., Applied Mathematics and Physics, from MIPT, with honors.
How do you determine whether to protect your biopharma innovations through trade secrets or patents? In this session, industry leaders will share best practices for evaluating the risks and rewards of each approach and offer guidance on selecting the most effective protection strategy. Panelists will provide actionable insights on mitigating risks in high-stakes litigation scenarios while ensuring innovations remain secure and competitive.
This panel will discuss:
- Pros and cons of protecting biopharma innovations through trade secrets versus patents
- Strategies for safeguarding confidential information from internal and external threats
- Recent legal decisions shaping the enforcement of trade secrets and patents
- Balancing risk and reward when choosing an IP protection strategy
Scheduled One-to-One Meetings. If interested in participating, email info@centerforceusa.com
This session will focus on innovative strategies for monetizing IP assets in the biopharma industry. Panelists will discuss how companies can unlock revenue potential through licensing agreements, joint ventures, and technology transfer deals. Attendees will gain insights into balancing financial risk and reward while ensuring compliance with antitrust and regulatory requirements to maximize the value of their IP portfolios.
This panel will discuss:
- Structuring licensing agreements to create sustainable revenue streams for biopharma companies
- Identifying opportunities for collaborations and joint ventures that leverage existing IP assets
- Balancing financial risk and reward in effective monetization strategies
- Compliance considerations, including antitrust and regulatory requirements, when monetizing IP assets
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, and staying informed about its impact is critical to success. Join AI experts and explore how AI is driving innovation in drug discovery, the steps organizations should take to streamline IP portfolio management, and the opportunities it opens up for patent creation. The discussion will also address the challenges of patenting AI-related inventions, including navigating evolving regulations and tackling algorithmic bias in litigation. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities and risks associated with integrating AI into their IP strategies.
This panel will discuss:
- How AI is revolutionizing drug discovery and creating patentable innovations in the biotech and pharma sectors
- The complexities of patenting AI-driven inventions, including overcoming regulatory and technical hurdles
- Strategies for using AI tools to manage and optimize IP portfolios more effectively
- Addressing legal challenges related to algorithmic bias and its potential implications in IP litigation
William Coppola has been an accomplished patent attorney amassing a tremendous amount of experience in the legal biotech and pharma space. He has secured and defended world-wide patent protection for chemical, biotechnology and device inventions, litigation of chemical, biotechnology and device patents in the US and globally (including Hatch-Waxman litigations in the US, and PMNOC litigations in Canada).
Mr. Coppola holds a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law. He received a graduate degree in Biochemistry from the University of South Florida, and an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the University of Delaware. He is a registered patent attorney who is admitted to practice law in New Jersey, New York, Florida, and the District of Columbia. He is also a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor society and an Eagle Scout.
Ellen Scordino focuses on patent and trade secret litigation and client counseling in the pharmaceuticals, biologics, diagnostics, biofuels, and medical device industries but has also represented clients in a wide range of other patent and general commercial matters in courts across the country and in arbitrations.
She has particular expertise with Hatch-Waxman and BPCIA litigations and has led trial teams in obtaining favorable judgments and settlements in district courts and inter partes review proceedings. Scordino has also worked extensively with clients to create patent and litigation strategies mindful of regulatory issues and the FDA. She has litigated and counseled clients on matters involving blockbuster drugs, biologics and biosimilars, orphan drugs, PCR technologies, recombinant DNA technologies, medical devices, cannabis, biofuels, and chemistry (including food and consumer good additives).
Scheduled One-to-One Meetings. If interested in participating, email info@centerforceusa.com
Rotating, 20-Minute sessions lead by topic experts:
Roundtable 1: Hatch-Waxman & BPCIA Litigation: Practical Insights for In-House Counsel
Roundtable 2: Defending Against Patent Validity Challenges: Winning at PTAB and Beyond
Roundtable 3: Patent Damages in Biopharma: Maximizing Value and Managing Litigation Risk
Scheduled One-to-One Meetings. If interested in participating, email info@centerforceusa.com
Speakers
Ron Cahill is well-respected for his work with clients of virtually all sizes to solve their most challenging intellectual property problems. A first chair IP trial attorney and Chair of the Barnes & Thornburg national Life Sciences Practice Group, he specializes in breaking down complex life sciences intellectual property issues for juries, judges, and the PTAB. With decades of courtroom experience, Ron has led trial teams in patent infringement cases around the country. He also conducts inter partes reviews (IPRs) and other proceedings in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to determine patent validity. While much of Ron’s work involves presenting his clients’ cases to judges and juries around the country, many clients ask him to apply his experience to strategic planning within their business, especially with respect to their competitors or potential deal partners. Ron’s life science work covers a wide range of products, technologies, and legal issues, with recent engagements including CAR-T cancer treatments, small molecule enzyme inhibitors, personalized medicine, and genetic engineering of metabolic systems to produce desired outputs. Recent legal issues have included the scope of written description and enablement in the drug discovery context, the obviousness of engineered biologics, infringement based on biochemical function and property limitations, induced infringement of method of treatment claims, and the strategic use of IPRs to avoid litigation.
As a Director, Intellectual Property at Encodia, Inc., Dmitry oversees the growing patent and trademark portfolio and aligns it with company’s business goals. Encodia is building a novel platform for enabling high-throughput protein analysis and polypeptide de novo sequencing. Working as a US patent agent for about 10 years, Dmitry has significant experience with drafting, prosecuting and analyzing patents and patent applications both in the US and internationally. Dmitry has worked both as in-house patent agent and as a patent agent within a large law firm.
Dmitry also has very extensive research experience in the life sciences and healthcare fields, and is an author of more than 30 peer-reviewed publications in international journals, including about 15 first-author publications. Dmitry was a regulatory scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Office of Biotechnology Products), evaluating potential problems that therapeutic proteins may face during manufacturing and storage. Before that, Dmitry was a postdoctoral scientist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, studying protein folding and its relevance to human diseases.
Dmitry holds a Ph.D. degree in Molecular Biophysics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), Russia, and received a B.S., Applied Mathematics and Physics, from MIPT, with honors.
Bryan Zerhusen, Ph.D., counsels innovators in the chemical and life science industries in all aspects of domestic and foreign patent preparation and prosecution. Chair of the firm’s Life Sciences Practice Group, Bryan’s clients include solo inventors, academic institutions, foreign law firms, venture firms, as well as companies ranging from start-ups to global corporations in the medical biotechnology, agricultural biotechnology, diagnostic, chemical, pharmaceutical, medical device and healthcare sectors.
In particular, Bryan routinely performs patent drafting and prosecution; counsels clients on strategic IP portfolio management; prepares patentability and freedom-to-operate searching, analysis and opinions; prosecutes patent reexaminations; conducts due diligence investigations; and provides IP litigation support. Bryan also has extensive experience negotiating and preparing agreements relevant to the life science industry, including collaborative agreements and IP licensing agreements on behalf of solo inventors, venture firms, start-ups and emerging companies.
William Coppola has been an accomplished patent attorney amassing a tremendous amount of experience in the legal biotech and pharma space. He has secured and defended world-wide patent protection for chemical, biotechnology and device inventions, litigation of chemical, biotechnology and device patents in the US and globally (including Hatch-Waxman litigations in the US, and PMNOC litigations in Canada).
Mr. Coppola holds a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law. He received a graduate degree in Biochemistry from the University of South Florida, and an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the University of Delaware. He is a registered patent attorney who is admitted to practice law in New Jersey, New York, Florida, and the District of Columbia. He is also a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor society and an Eagle Scout.
Ellen Scordino focuses on patent and trade secret litigation and client counseling in the pharmaceuticals, biologics, diagnostics, biofuels, and medical device industries but has also represented clients in a wide range of other patent and general commercial matters in courts across the country and in arbitrations.
She has particular expertise with Hatch-Waxman and BPCIA litigations and has led trial teams in obtaining favorable judgments and settlements in district courts and inter partes review proceedings. Scordino has also worked extensively with clients to create patent and litigation strategies mindful of regulatory issues and the FDA. She has litigated and counseled clients on matters involving blockbuster drugs, biologics and biosimilars, orphan drugs, PCR technologies, recombinant DNA technologies, medical devices, cannabis, biofuels, and chemistry (including food and consumer good additives).
Sponsors
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
With more than 800 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Atlanta, Boston, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, Texas and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter @BTLawNews.
Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP
Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP is an intellectual property law firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois with a second office in Raleigh, North Carolina. Marshall Gerstein provides legal counsel to many of the world’s largest, most innovative businesses, research institutions, universities, and entrepreneurs. For more than 65 years, Marshall Gerstein has served clients nationally and internationally in the legal areas of patent and trademark prosecution, transactional and litigation counseling, and copyright and trade secret protection. Marshall Gerstein is committed to the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion and fosters diversity of thought, which drives innovation to better serve our clients.
Cantor Colburn LLP
Cantor Colburn LLP is the one of the largest and most productive full-service intellectual property law firms in the U.S. With highly specialized knowledge and in-depth understanding of clients’ businesses, the firm supports the technological innovations that are driving the world economy. Cantor Colburn has been a staple in the top 10 law firms for utility and design patents and trademarks for more than a decade. The team includes attorneys with experience as engineers in industry, scientists and inventors. Combining technical skills with legal understanding and scientific knowledge, we quickly grasp the complexities of our clients’ inventions to effectively and cost-efficiently advocate on their behalf before the USPTO. Exceptionally well versed in a wide range of cutting-edge technologies, the firm assists clients in a broad spectrum of industries, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, telecommunications, chemical engineering, software, aerospace, and mechanical engineering. Our life sciences clients are leaders in a variety of disciplines including immunology, virology, molecular biology, animal and plant genetics, gene therapy, protein chemistry, pharmacology, enzymology, and bioinformatics. Our specific areas of patent expertise include artificial antibodies, recombinant cytokines, recombinant antigens, vaccines, antisense technology, cloning, differential display technologies, genomics and genetic engineering, immunoassay methods, rational drug design, and synthesis and screening of combinatorial libraries. Our Hatch-Waxman litigation experience combined with our understanding of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries uniquely positions Cantor Colburn to assist clients in developing and implementing successful litigation strategies designed to achieve their business objectives.
McDermott Will & Emery
McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. With more than 20 office locations, our team works seamlessly across practices, industries and geographies to deliver highly effective–and often unexpected–solutions that propel success. More than 1,200 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.
DLA Piper
With a portfolio of services to match every stage of the business lifecycle, DLA Piper combines practice area knowledge with modern industry insights and an expansive global footprint in a way that no other firm can. Our solutions are tailored and seamless – and ready to meet your toughest challenges. We’re guided by a simple belief – that we’re only as successful as our clients are. That’s why we fully invest in your success by working with you to deliver creative solutions, exceptional value, and peace of mind.
DLA Piper has more than 90 offices and 4,900 lawyers worldwide. Our deep capabilities and broad global platform and mind-set produce exceptional results for our clients around the world. In the US, we are located in all key markets and offer a full range of services. We represent many of the world’s leading companies, including multinational, Global 1000 and FTSE 250 companies, in a wide range of industries.
Venue
TBA
Boston, MA
Pricing
| Register By | In House Counsel | Law Firms & Vendors |
|---|---|---|
| September 25, 2024 | 0.00 | $895 |
| October 9, 2024 | 0.00 | $1195 |
| October 23, 2024 | 0.00 | $1395 |
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