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AIPLA Spring Meeting Committee Educational
SessionApril 30, 2015, Los Angeles,
CACo-Sponsored by:
AIPLABiotechnology & Corporate Practice
Committees
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DISCLAIMER
The story of Soteria Biosciences is entirely a work of fiction, based on the presenters’ and organizers’ collective imagination.
All events, plant species, chemical compounds, characters and/or corporate entities appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real events, corporate entities, or to any persons, living or dead, or to any real plant species or chemical compounds, is purely coincidental.
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Soteria Biosciences: The Early IP Adventures of an
Agri-Biotech Startup Company as it Morphs into a Global Multidisciplinary
Giant•Moderator: Angela Sebor, GlobeImmune, Inc.• Playing: Soteria Biosciences Chief Business
Officer • Session Organizer: Debora Plehn-Dujovich,
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP• Playing: Chief Operating Officer & Time Shifter
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The Cast of Panelists: Section 1Early Stage Corporate Issues
• Lee Johnson, Wilson, Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati• Playing: Outside Patent & IP Counsel, U.S.
•Mark Pidkowich, Smart & Biggar• Playing: Outside Patent & IP Counsel,
International
• Jen Zarutskie Sieczkiewicz, Biogen Idec, Inc.• Playing: Soteria Biosciences IP, Research &
Business Development Counsel
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The Cast of Panelists: Section 2Foreign Filing Issues
•Angela Domitrovich, Sheridan Ross P.C.• Playing: Outside Counsel, Patent Agent
• Joel Silver, Gilead Sciences, Inc.• Playing: Soteria Biosciences Vice President
Intellectual Property, International
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The Cast of Panelists: Section 3Legal and Diligence Issues
•Bonnie Weiss-McLeod, Cooley LLP• Playing: Outside Counsel, IP Strategy and Due
Diligence
•Carey Jordan, McDermott Will & Emery• Playing: Outside Counsel, Licensing and
Transactions
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Section 1
Early Stage Corporate Issues:
Research & DevelopmentPatent Landscape
Due DiligenceOwnership
Funding
Soteria Biosciences
Intellectual Property Strategy MeetingRe: State A&M Technology
Due Diligence & License Negotiations
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Soteria BiosciencesCorporate Overview
• Early Stage Startup Company focused on agricultural science•Mission: Discover and develop new plant varieties
of Humurus sativa (common name “Humor”) for use in agricultural and other biotechnology commercial applications• Special interest in varieties of Humor having
modified humurbidiol (HBD) and/or tetrahydrohumurbinol (THH)
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State A&M License Evaluation
• Extensive R & D program: Dr. Metamorphosis, distinguished Professor at State A&M• Discovery of “NuHumor” varieties (genetically
modified Humurus sativa) • High HBD content (beneficial medical effects)• THH KO (no/low psychoactive effects)
• Plant Application and Provisional and PCT Applications filed• Early data presented at scientific meeting(s) and in
graduate student dissertation (post-provisional filing)
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State A&M License Evaluation• Soteria License Term Sheet (proposed):• Ask:• License to all IP related to NuHumor,
and control of patent prosecution• License to NuHumor plant varieties• License to all State A&M
technology/”know how” related to NuHumor
• Terms: Milestones, Royalties
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A FEW YEARS LATER…..
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Soteria Biosciences Today• License from StateA&M completed• Filed “NuHumor” PCT Application globally• Significant financing rounds completed• Soteria Biosciences internal R&D program
advanced• Soteria AG (European division) formed• Selling plants to farmers for industrial and
foodstuff uses under license
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Section 2
Foreign Filing Issues:
Foreign Filing ConsiderationsNovelty/Absolute NoveltyPotential Priority PitfallsForeign Filing Licenses
Special Issues
Soteria Biosciences
Intellectual Property Strategy MeetingRe: Foreign Filing
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Soteria BiosciencesRecent Developments• Soteria AG reports “high oil” NuHumor• Discuss possible new global patent filings
• State A&M issue: alleged memo from Dr. Derivation, visiting scientist• Discussions with Mr. Cheechong re: plant
discovery, “NoPain”• Research program: Soteria discovers
“NoPainNoGain”
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MOVING FORWARD AGAIN…..
Patent Landscape
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Section 3
Legal and Diligence Issues:
Preserving Confidential InformationPreserving Privileged Information
Common Interest AgreementsPrivilege Waiver
Soteria Biosciences
Intellectual Property Strategy MeetingRe: BigPharma NegotiationsConfidentiality and Privilege