Biotech Strategy Blog

Commentary on Science, Innovation & New Products

Posts from the ‘Intellectual Property’ category

Court rules Medivation has no IP rights to Aragon Pharmaceuticals ARN-509 $MDVN

By on January 3, 2013

Medivation investors hoping for a windfall will be disappointed to hear that on December 20, 2012 a California judge ruled the company had no rights to what is now known as Aragon Pharmaceuticals’ ARN-509, a next-generation androgen receptor (AR) antagonist for advanced prostate cancer, similar in chemical structure to enzalutamide (Xtandi).

Enzalutamide (formerly MDV3100) was developed in the UCLA laboratory of Drs. Charles Sawyers and Michael Jung and licensed by Medivation from the University of California. Medivation believed their licensing and sponsored research agreements gave them rights to any follow-on compounds. However, instead of giving Medivation first right of refusal, the University licensed what is now ARN-509 to Aragon Pharmaceuticals, a privately-held company whose owners include Sawyers and Jung.

This is a preview of Court rules Medivation has no IP rights to Aragon Pharmaceuticals ARN-509 $MDVN. Read the full post

Leave a comment

Today is Innovation Day at Childrens Hospital Boston #iDay

By on February 14, 2012

Today is the first “Innovation Day” at Children’s Hospital Boston. For those, like me, who can’t be in Boston for it, you can follow on Twitter using the hashtag #iday or watch online via live streaming.

Innovation Acceleration Program Logo Today is Innovation Day at Childrens Hospital Boston #iDayI’m impressed that the hospital has an Innovation Acceleration Program focused on supporting “clinical care that impacts patients around the world.”

I think this event is a really great way to showcase some of the interesting research and collaboration that is taking place in the hospital in the field of device development, healthcare IT and process innovation.

This is a preview of Today is Innovation Day at Childrens Hospital Boston #iDay. Read the full post

Leave a comment

A new blog offers how to analyze a confidentiality agreement

By on August 5, 2011

Richard Hsu (@hsutubeesq), a Silicon Vally technology lawyer and partner at King & Spalding has a new blog that I’d like to recommend.

Named “The One Page Blog”, it aims to showcase Richard’s knowledge of IP and technology law using one page posts. Most of the posts have a downloadable PDF with a useful framework or summary. A picture tells a thousand words.

I particularly like Richard’s recent post on how to analyze a confidentiality agreement. The model Richard proposes will be useful to lawyers who are not IP-experts or those who need to talk to their lawyers about some of the issues that should be considered.

This is a preview of A new blog offers how to analyze a confidentiality agreement. Read the full post

Leave a comment

BIO 2011: my top 10 sessions at the BIO International convention in Washington DC

By on June 18, 2011

BIO 2011 International Convention Washington DC BIO 2011: my top 10 sessions at the BIO International convention in Washington DC

I am excited to be attending, for the first time, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) international convention that takes place in Washington DC in just over a week’s time from Monday June 27 to Thursday, June 30th.

This meeting has something for everyone interested in the biotechnology industry whether it be deal making, partnering, licensing, drug discovery or personalized medicine. There are 16 specialized tracks where industry experts provide insight and best practices.

In addition, there are numerous networking and social events plus an exhibit hall that showcases the world’s biotech regions and how they are promoting innovation.

This is a preview of BIO 2011: my top 10 sessions at the BIO International convention in Washington DC. Read the full post

1 Comment

Should companies be able to patent human genes?

By on February 14, 2011

That is the interesting question that struck me after reading Sam Kean’s informative article in the February 4 edition of Science.  Ten years on from the sequencing of the Human Genome, the patenting of human genetic information presents unique challenges at the interface of science, law and innovation.

Researchers have obtained patents for isolating different sections of DNA that occur naturally in our bodies.  Whether this should be permitted is still open to debate. Currently, diagnostic companies who want to launch a new cancer test face the challenge that patents now cover many genes.

This is a preview of Should companies be able to patent human genes?. Read the full post

Leave a comment

I’m off to WordCamp Phoenix 2011 #wcphx

By on January 28, 2011

I will be at WordCamp Phoenix tomorrow, along with 650 other attendees, for what is set to be an exciting meeting. Not only is it a great opportunity to escape the lousy New Jersey weather, but the meeting program is awesome.

I’m looking forward to learning from WordPress experts and enthusiasts about how I can improve this blog, its design, marketing and functionality. Saturday’s session schedule can be found here.  I have to say the volunteers who set up this meeting have done a great job!!

This is a preview of I’m off to WordCamp Phoenix 2011 #wcphx. Read the full post

Leave a comment

WIPO Intellectual Property Courses

By on December 31, 2010

logo 2010 WIPO Intellectual Property CoursesIntellectual property (IP) rights are important in the biotechnology industry; one only has to look at a licensing, consulting or service agreement to appreciate this.

If you are a non-lawyer new to the area, and wish to gain a basic understanding of the different types of intellectual property protection such as copyright, trademarks, industrial design, patents and unfair competition, then the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academy offers a free general course (DL-101).

This is a preview of WIPO Intellectual Property Courses. Read the full post

Leave a comment