Biotechnology

No area of technology presents more complex intellectual property issues than biotechnology. One reason for this is the rapid development of scientific disciplines, such as molecular biology, microbiology, cell biology, developmental biology, immunology, etc., which produce novel subject matter to be protected. Examples include cloned genes, nucleic acid probes, transgenic and cloned animals, gene chips, monoclonal antibodies, chimeric antibodies, humanized antibodies, enzymes, and the uses of many of these novel materials in diagnostics, therapeutics and the production of still further materials. Another reason is that intellectual property law has changed remarkably since the 1980 landmark Supreme Court decision in the Chakrabarty case which held that living organisms are patentable subject matter. Many of the developments in intellectual property law have a unique application to biotechnology, such as the laws and regulations relating to biological deposits, sequence listings, patentability of ESTs, and the nonobviousness of biotechnology processes.

Since its founding, our firm has been recognized as a leader in protecting biotechnology inventions. The firm has earned its reputation based on the extensive training and experience, both scientific and legal, of its professional staff. We strive to obtain for our clients the best protection available through a thorough and creative approach in preparing and prosecuting patent applications, negotiating and drafting license agreements, collaborative research, development and marketing agreements, materials transfer agreements and other types of agreements relating to biotechnology.