Biography
Clients seeking to obtain and protect world-wide patent rights for all types of biotech innovation can benefit from the education and experience of Sharon M. Sintich, Ph.D. On their behalf, she combines expertise in all aspects of patent prosecution with technical insight gained from her graduate research in tumor cell biology. She also counsels clients in portfolio management, and provides opinions on patent validity, patent enforceability, and freedom-to-operate issues. Whether a non-profit, start-up, or large company, they rely on Sharon’s committed and methodical approach to protecting their innovations in biotechnology while adding value for their businesses. Since 2020, Sharon is listed among “The Best Lawyers in America” in the practice area of Patent Law. In 2021, Sharon was recognized by Profiles in Diversity Journal as a Women Worth Watching in STEM.
Representative Experience
- Conducted due diligence and freedom to operate analyses for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies that resulted in obtaining licensing and partnership opportunities. Exemplary subject matter of analyses include components within chimeric proteins, vaccine components, antibodies and peptides.
- Successfully obtained patent protection for core aspects of an agribusiness start-up company’s platform technology, helping to open funding and partnership opportunities for the company. In addition, we provided IP due diligence, consultations on IP aspects of collaboration agreements and managed their IP global strategy in order to foster these partnerships and to generate new business collaborations.
- Successfully obtained patent protection for key components of a biologic vaccine on behalf of a non-profit innovator, which helped the innovator obtain funding for further development of the vaccine.
- Successfully obtained patents for Fortune 500 companies, large and small biotech companies, and universities.
Sharon has ably helped clients obtain and maintain patent rights in such areas of biotechnology as:
- Gene therapy
- Antibodies and Immunotherapeutics
- Diagnostics
- Proteomics
- Vaccines
- Biological intervention of disease states (including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and AIDS)
- Screening methods for modulators of biological activity
- Genetically modified plants
- Methods of typing tissues intended for transplant
- Methods of generating bioengineered tissues
Background and Credentials
Sharon obtained her J.D. from The John Marshall Law School in January 2004. Previously, she earned a Ph.D. in tumor cell biology from Northwestern University. Her graduate research was conducted in the Department of Urology at Northwestern University Medical School, and focused on TGFß action in prostate cancer. She received a B.S. in biology from Bradley University, during which she conducted research on hormonal regulation of hatching asynchrony in the house wren.
Education
- The John Marshall Law School (J.D.)
- Northwestern University (Ph.D.)
- Tumor Cell Biology
- Bradley University (B.S.)
- Biology
Bar Admissions
Publications and Presentations
- "Advanced Claim Drafting Issues," PLI's Advanced Patent Prosecution Workshop, September 2017.
- “Advanced Claim Drafting Issues,” PLI's Advanced Patent Prosecution Workshop, September 2016.
- “Advanced Claim Drafting Issues,” PLI's Patent Prosecution Seminar, September 2015.
- “Claim Drafting for Biotechnology Patent Applications,” PLI's Advanced Patent Prosecution Workshop, September 2014.
- “Written Description and Biotech Patents,” Pharmaceutical Litigation Reporter 24 (7): 12-16, September 2008.
Community and Professional Involvement
- Participates in the guardian ad litem program for the Chicago Volunteer Legal Service
- Young Women In Bio Committee Chair, Women In Bio–Chicago Chapter
Recent Client Successes
- Sharon was a member of the team prosecuting U.S. Patent 8,063,182 related to Amgen’s FDA approved drug, Embrel (etanercept).
- Sharon handles the patent portfolio covering Chromatin Inc’s minichromosomes and gene stacking platform technology that was the basis for founding the company. Chromatin is building on this platform to create next generation crops, including high-value biomass feedstocks targeted at the renewable energy sector.
Representative Matters
Kirin Brewery Company, Limited* v. Genentech, Inc.
U.S. Patent Office Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences
Case Type(s): Patent Interference
Area(s) of practice: Biotechnology