Sponsor 06.05.23
06.05
2023 BIO International Convention
12:00PM - 5:00PM EDT
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
415 Summer St.
Boston, MA 02210
We are saddened to report the August 26, 2024 passing of our esteemed colleague John Wetherell.
We remember John’s extraordinary contributions in his nearly 25 years at our Firm with deep admiration, honoring his remarkable achievements and leadership in patent innovation and research science, as well as his dedicated service to his community.
Beyond his singular professional achievements, we celebrate John’s indelible impact on his clients and colleagues as a dedicated counselor, teammate and friend. A true mentor who was personally invested in those he worked with, John fostered an environment of kindness and genuine support that has left a lasting impact. He will be deeply missed.
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John Wetherell, Ph.D., has 25+ years' experience closing IP deals and securing U.S. and international patents for biotechnology companies.
John’s counseling experience includes intellectual property acquisition, transactional due diligence, patent infringement and validity analyses, and freedom-to-operate opinions, as well as licensing and strategic counseling. His patent prosecution experience includes obtaining U.S. and foreign protection in biotechnology areas such as molecular biology, immunology, nanotechnology, medical diagnostics, microbiology and pharmacology. He also evaluates intellectual property portfolios for both companies and investors.
At Pillsbury, John is the partner in charge of the Intellectual Property practice in the San Diego office, and co-leader of the National Life Sciences Group. He is also the leader of the Stem Cell Outlook and Planning Effort (SCOPE), a group established to provide multidisciplinary legal services to clients in this promising new area of technology.
John received a B.S. in Chemistry, and a Ph.D. in Microbiology/ Immunology, both from the University of Florida, and a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law. He conducted postdoctoral research, including studies on the humoral and cellular immune responses in periodontal disease, at The Forsyth Institute in Boston, where he concurrently held an NIH post-doctoral fellowship and a Young Principal Investigator’s award. Before becoming an attorney, he gained extensive experience as a research scientist and manager during his five-year tenure in the biotechnology industry.
He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
John has written and lectured extensively for organizations and institutions around the world on patent law, biotechnology patent law, IP strategy, and related IP transactional issues.
Representative Experience
- Led Pillsbury’s team representing the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in a record-setting $3.3 billion sale of drug rights to Royalty Pharma following an intensive IP due diligence effort.
- Achieved a favorable arbitration panel ruling for University of Kansas following years of litigation in a case involving inventorship credit on National Institute of Health-owned patents covering cancer drug formulations.
- Represented underwriters Roth Capital Partners, Canaccord Genuity, Oppenheimer & Co. and Craig-Hallum Capital Group in the $76.5 million stock offering by Lannett Co., a pharmaceutical manufacturer and distributor.
Professional Highlights
- Recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. for Intellectual Property (2008-2011, 2015); PLC Which Lawyer? for Life Sciences: Patent Counseling; and San Diego Magazine as one of the “Top Lawyers in San Diego.”
- Appointment, Legal Adviser of Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
- Conducted postdoctoral research, including studies on humoral and cellular immune responses in periodontal disease, at The Forsyth Institute in Boston.
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- Author, “Patent Protection of Stem Cell Innovations,” a chapter in the latest edition of Perinatal Stem Cells published by Elsevier.
- Writes and lectures extensively for organizations and institutions around the world on patent law, biotechnology patent law, IP strategy and related IP transactional issues.
- Awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the National Institutes of Health.
- Recipient of the Young Principal Investigator’s award.
- Honors & Awards
- Life Science Star, LMG Life Sciences (2012)
- Top Rated Lawyers Guide to Healthcare Law, Corporate Counsel (2012)
- Leading Portfolio Managers, Patent Prosecutors & Litigators List, Daily Journal (2008)
- Associations
- Board Member, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter)
- San Diego Bar Association
- American Intellectual Property Association
- Licensing Executive Society
- Association of University Technology Managers
- American Chemical Society
- Corporate Directors Forum
- Biotechnology Industry Organization
- Speaking Engagements
- "Adding Value to Patents and Their Role in Commercial Success," USC Stevens Center for Innovation Webinar, September 24, 2020
- "Annual speaker at San Diego Venture Group/CONNECT’s IP Track Frameworks workshops on four topics: Basics of Obtaining Commercially Effective IP, Establishing an Effective Bio-Science IP Portfolio, Business Aspects of Patents and Enforcement of Patents"
- "Patent Protection: A Business Tool for Commercial Success,” San Diego Start Up Week, June 17, 2016
- “Introduction to IP in the Food and Beverage Industries – Part I: Patents and Trade Secrets,” IP Issues in the Food and Beverage Industries, October 16, 2014
Admissions
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California
District of Columbia
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office