LSPN North America: a chance to delve into CRISPR
Duane Marks, patent counsel in bio-products at Eli Lilly and Company, is one of the expert speakers attending the Life Sciences Patent Network (LSPN) North America conference in Boston on April 26.
As well as these expert speakers, focused roundtable sessions will allow delegates to delve into the latest developments in the global patent landscape and share predictions on their long-term impact in the sector. As the first in the 2018 series, LSPN North America’s overall focus is protecting innovation in the changing life sciences landscape.
The CRISPR patent struggle remains a hot topic, even more so since the European Patent Office revoked the Broad Institute’s patent relating to fundamental aspects of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology. At the first LSPN conference since January’s decision, the much-discussed verdict in the CRISPR dispute will be a major talking point, as will the landscape in the US.
Presentations and panel discussions will cover other landmark decisions. The UK Supreme Court ruling in Actavis v Eli Lilly, regarding the doctrine of equivalents, is arguably one of the most important decisions on patent infringement in the last decade. The court reformulated the three questions that should be asked when testing for equivalent patent infringement.
LSPN North America will take place on April 26, 2018 in Boston’s Ritz-Carlton hotel. It presents an unrivalled gathering of in-house counsel from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies as
well as specialist IP lawyers, all coming together to share, discuss, and listen to updates on issues surrounding patent enforceability and prosecution across the world.
LSIPR has hosted a successful series of LSPN conferences around the world, including in London (December 2016 and December 2017), Boston (June 2017) and Singapore (October 2017). Each event featured a diverse range of speakers recognised as leaders in their fields, from IP lawyers to licensing and brand experts from global pharmaceutical companies.
Expert panels and more
To kick off the LSPN North America conference, in-house IP advisors from major pharmaceutical companies will take their place as panellists to discuss global patent enforceability. The panel, which will be moderated by patent litigation partner Arlene Chow of Hogan Lovells, is set to feature representatives from Shire Pharmaceuticals, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Purdue Pharma, and Pfizer.
Other panel discussions will include exploring the differences between biosimilars and generics, analysing IP portfolio management strategies, and considering the protection of antibodies. This final panel discussion includes Marks, of Eli Lilly and Company, whose comprehension of the issues is expected to prompt intriguing debate.
The panel discussions are only one part of LSPN. Speakers will also share new case studies, address the validity of second medical use patents, and present updates on the relationship between patents and trade secrets. More than half of those attending will be in-house counsel so, as well as the in-depth panel discussions, attendees will be able to enjoy informal networking time with experts in IP strategy development.
