Client Successes

Successful IP-Intensive Acquisition

Monopar Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative drug combinations to improve clinical outcomes in cancer patients, turned to Marshall Gerstein to assist with the acquisition of GPX-150, a broad spectrum Phase II Cancer drug candidate from Gem Pharmaceuticals. Marshall Gerstein’s attorneys, who also serve as Monopar’s IP prosecution counsel, structured the intellectual property contribution and assignment components for the IP-intensive acquisition. Our attorneys’ experience in both biopharmaceutical transactions and this specific technology, enabled us to efficiently and effectively identify and integrate key terms to address the full range of intellectual property critical to the deal, which ultimately led to a timely and successful acquisition.

Gene Therapy Requires Multifaceted Licensing Strategy

Treatment with Nanoparticles, Genetic therapy, Fluorescent staining

Salk Institute for Biological Studies and Juan Carlos Izpisúa Belmonte, one of TIME magazine’s “50 Most Influential People in Health Care” sought the counsel of Marshall Gerstein on a licensing strategy for a technology platform for gene therapy. The technology platform allows for genes to activate without creating breaks in the genetic code that may result in unwanted mutations. Salk’s technology platform has proved to treat models of diabetes, muscular dystrophy and acute kidney disease and could be applied to more cell types and organs to treat a wider range of human diseases and age-related conditions. Marshall Gerstein executed a portfolio licensing strategy which offered the best way to ensure development of all the potential applications. Marshall Gerstein collaborated with Salk’s in-house technology transfer team and their general counsel’s office to construct the portfolio licensing strategy.

To learn more about Juan Carlos Izpisúa Belmonte, see MIT Technology Review’s article highlighting his work at Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

Supply & License Agreement for First-Ever Point of Care Vet Cancer Screen

Marshall Gerstein represented Volition Rx Limited in an exclusive global supply and licensing agreement with Heska Corporation to sell Volition’s Nu.Q® Vet Cancer Test. The transaction clears the way for the first cancer screening available at clinics and other points of care, opening a market for cancer screening and monitoring for dogs and cats estimated to be worth more than $11 billion. The $28 million transaction--$10 million upfront and up to $18 million based upon achieving near/mid-term milestones—advances Volition’s strategy to ensure the broadest possible accessibility to the Nu.Q® Test worldwide. Volition continues to make significant progress in ongoing negotiations with the multi-national veterinary companies to provide central lab global coverage for the Nu.Q® Test. The firm is also negotiating these strategic partnerships.

Pamela L. Cox, Partner and Chair, IP Transactions