The licensing of life science technologies, especially oncology-related technologies, is becoming an essential part of doing business. With MedImmune v. Genentech, the United States Supreme Court transformed the relationship between patent licensors and licensees. Historically, licensees were prevented from challenging patents on invalidity grounds. Now, a licensee may challenge a patent's validity while paying royalties to the licensor.

Although framed as a procedural question of standing to bring suit, the application of this Supreme Court case has the potential to shift the decision making of licensors and licensees and to significantly change the volume and cost of patent licensing activities. In this audio conference Dr. Samardija explores the Supreme Court decision and the various decisions that have followed, and provides attendees with 10 drafting tips to decrease the risks associated with a licensee challenging the validity of a patent.

This audio conference covers:

• MedImmune v. Genentech and its impact on licensing agreements
• Assessing the litigation risk in your current licensing agreements
• 10 steps to take and specific contract language to use to decrease the risk of a licensee challenging patent validity

About the speaker:

Michael Samardzija, PhD practices with the firm of Bracewell & Giuliani, focusing on prosecution of patents in biotechnology and the life sciences, specifically physiology, molecular biology, cell biology, immunology, pharmaceuticals, biologics and diagnostics. Previously he served as Director of Intellectual Property at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center’s Office of Technology Commercialization. There he reviewed over 300 invention disclosures and filed over 100 provisional patent applications. One of the high points of his tenure was being involved in policy discussions with members of Congress regarding patent law reform.

Prior to that, Dr. Samardzija was the sole in-house attorney at NeurogesX, a specialty biopharmaceutical company in San Carlos, CA, and practiced as an associate with Skjerven Morrill MacPherson LLP. He received his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2001. Before entering law school, Dr. Samardzija worked as a Senior Research Scientist with Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. After receiving his doctorate, Dr. Samardzija worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Pharmacology at the University of California at San Diego and the Bockus Research Institute in Philadelphia.

Who should attend?

• CEO
• CFO
• CLO
• Legal Affairs
• VP / Director of Business Development
• VP / Director of Corporate development