Rob Sahr, Charlie Steenburg, Jess von Reyn, and Dan Young will speak on a panels at IPWatchdog’s Life Sciences Masters™ 2025. This program, will focus on the intersection of intellectual property law and the biopharmaceutical industry, and will explore the law, politics, and business of life sciences. Wolf Greenfield is proud to sponsor this event.
Event Panels
IPWatchdog Life Sciences Masters™ 2025: Biopharma Due Diligence: A Roadmap for Success
October 28, 2025
@
11:40 AM
- 12:35 PM
ET
Rob Sahr and Dan Young will speak alongside Kady Bruce of BioNTech on a panel titled “Biopharma Due Diligence: A Roadmap for Success”. In the high-stakes world of biopharma transactions—whether licensing, M&A, collaborations, or investments—thorough and strategic due diligence is critical to mitigating risk and maximizing value. This panel will provide a practical roadmap for evaluating biopharma assets, with a focus on intellectual property portfolios, regulatory status, clinical trial data, manufacturing considerations, and market potential. Experienced dealmakers, attorneys, and industry experts will share real-world insights into uncovering red flags, validating key assumptions, and structuring deals that withstand scrutiny. Attendees will come away with a deeper understanding of how to balance speed and thoroughness, ask the right questions, and ensure that diligence drives—not delays—successful outcomes.
IPWatchdog Life Sciences Masters™ 2025: Developments and Trends for Biopharma Patents at the USPTO
October 28, 2025
@
4:15 PM
- 5:10 PM
ET
Jess von Reyn will speak alongside Robin Weatherhead of Ventus Therapeutics on a panel titled “Developments and Trends for Biopharma Patents at the USPTO”. The biotechnology sector faces unique challenges in navigating the evolving patent landscape at the US Patent and Trademark Office. This panel will explore recent developments in biotech patent examination, including subject matter eligibility and obviousness considerations. Panelists will analyze key USPTO guidance, rule changes, and examiner trends, as well as how recent court decisions are shaping prosecution strategies. Attendees will gain practical insights into overcoming common hurdles, strengthening applications, and aligning patent portfolios with both legal requirements and commercial objectives in a competitive and fast-moving biopharma market.
IPWatchdog Life Sciences Masters™ 2025: Enabling Biotech and Pharma Patents: Legal Challenges and Practical Solutions
October 29, 2025
@
10:20 AM
- 11:15 AM
ET
Charlie Steenburg will join a panel titled “Enabling Biotech and Pharma Patents: Legal Challenges and Practical Solutions”. Biotechnology and pharmaceutical inventions often push the boundaries of what patent law requires in terms of written description and enablement. This panel will examine the evolving legal standards and recent case law that shape how applicants must describe and support their inventions to secure robust, enforceable patents. Panelists will discuss practical strategies for meeting disclosure requirements in complex fields such as biologics, gene therapies, and small molecule drugs, while balancing the need for early filing with the realities of R&D timelines. Attendees will gain actionable insights on drafting and prosecuting applications that withstand scrutiny, avoid invalidation, and align with both USPTO expectations and global patent norms.