For biotech and pharmaceutical companies around the world, the ability to protect newly developed drugs and medical devices is the bedrock of business viability. The core of that protection—and of Weil’s Life Sciences practice—is patent litigation, bolstered by cutting-edge intellectual property and antitrust/competition capabilities.

Our attorneys also have experience helping expanding life sciences companies raise capital through private equity deals and other financing methods, and advising mature companies as they form strategic alliances. These transactions include mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures designed to bolster profits and shareholder returns, and allow new drugs and devices—often lifesaving medical advances—to be produced, tested and introduced to the market.

Since research and the development of new products is the lifeblood of the life sciences industry, we partner with pioneering biotech and pharmaceutical companies to protect and defend their innovative products and the revenue streams those products produce, and when necessary, to prosecute patent claims on their behalf. In both instances, we work with clients first to minimize litigation risks, but can point to an exceptional track record of trial success should the need arise.

However, profits generated by drug patents, do not last ad infinitum. Patent expiration and the competition to develop new blockbuster drugs are at least partially behind the current industry trend toward consolidation: the prospect of sharing in R&D potential can sweeten a merger or acquisition for the pharmaceutical company with a barren pipeline. Pursuing such a pipeline—or strategically leveraging one—is crucial as the competition to discover new drugs intensifies. With experience handling corporate acquisitions and divestitures, antitrust/competition and other regulatory matters and successor/predecessor liability and corporate veil issues, Weil is well-positioned to advise life sciences companies looking to infuse their organization with new blood.