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1.08.26
Wilson Sonsini Advises Ventyx Biosciences on $1.2 Billion Acquisition by Eli Lilly
On January 7, 2026, Eli Lilly and Company announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Ventyx Biosciences, Inc., a San Diego-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative oral therapies for patients with inflammatory-mediated diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly will acquire all the outstanding shares of Ventyx in an all-cash transaction, valuing at approximately $1.2 billion. Wilson Sonsini is advising Ventyx on the transaction.
Client Highlights
11.17.25
Wilson Sonsini Advises Kura Oncology on Patent and Trademark Matters Related to KOMZIFTI’s FDA Approval
On November 13, 2025, Kura Oncology (Kura) and Kyowa Kirin announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval for KOMZIFTI™ (ziftomenib). Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Kura on patent and trademark matters.
Alerts
12.16.24
USPTO Announces Finalized Patent Fee Increases in January 2025
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced the finalized patent fee increases which will be taking effect on January 19, 2025. These fee changes include an average increase of 7.5 percent in fee collections from the current fees and are setting or adjusting 433 patent fees including 52 new patent fees that were not previously assessed. The USPTO, while exercising their fee-setting authority under the America Invents Act of 2011 (AIA), stated these fee adjustments are necessary to provide the agency with sufficient financial resources to facilitate the effective administration of the U.S. patent system.
Client Highlights
11.22.24
Firm Advises Kura Oncology on Global Strategic Collaboration with Kyowa Kirin
On November 20, 2024, Kura Oncology, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing the promise of precision medicines for the treatment of cancer, and Kyowa Kirin Co., a Japan-based global specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that they have entered into a global strategic collaboration to develop and commercialize ziftomenib, Kura’s selective oral menin inhibitor that is being investigated for the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and other hematologic malignancies. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Kura on the transaction and has advised the company on IP matters since its founding in 2014.
Client Highlights
10.11.24
Firm Advises MARAbio Systems on IP Matters Related to $19 Million Series A
On October 8, 2024, MARAbio Systems, Inc., a precision immunology company whose mission is to detect, treat, and prevent Maternal Autoantibody Related Autism, announced that it has closed $19 million in Series A financing. The round, which was led by investment management firm MAK Capital One, LLC, is open to new investors through year-end 2024. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised MARAbio on intellectual property matters related to the transaction.
Client Highlights
10.01.24
Wilson Sonsini Advises 858 Therapeutics on IP Matters Related to $50 Million Series B
On September 26, 2024, San Diego-based 858 Therapeutics, a biotechnology and drug discovery company developing a portfolio of small molecule therapeutics directed against novel oncology and immunology targets, announced the completion of a $50 million Series B financing led by Avidity Partners with participation from Insight Partners, Mirae Asset Capital, and Alexandria Venture Investments, as well as existing investors Versant Ventures, NEA, and Logos Capital. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised 858 Therapeutics on intellectual property matters related to the transaction.
Alerts
8.21.24
Federal Circuit Provides Guidance on What Claims Can Properly Serve As Obviousness-Type Double Patenting References
In a precedential decision issued on August 13, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held that a first-filed, first-issued, later-expiring claim cannot be invalidated by a later-filed, later-issued, earlier-expiring reference claim having a common priority date.1
Client Highlights
7.26.24
Wilson Sonsini Advises Autobahn Therapeutics on IP Matters Related to $100 Million Series C Round
On July 24, 2024, Autobahn Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing restorative treatments for people affected by neuropsychiatric and neuroimmunologic disorders, announced the closing of an oversubscribed $100 million Series C financing. Proceeds from the financing round will be used to commence two Phase 2 clinical trials for the company’s lead program, ABX-002, a potent and selective thyroid hormone beta receptor (TRβ) agonist that was well-tolerated and demonstrated CNS target engagement in a Phase 1 study. In the second half of 2024, Autobahn plans to initiate Phase 2 trials designed to provide biological and clinical proof-of-concept of ABX-002 as an adjunctive treatment for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and patients with bipolar disorder depression. MDD and bipolar disorder are highly prevalent, debilitating, and life-threatening mental illnesses that affect more than 20 million people and 7 million people in the U.S. alone, respectively.
Client Highlights
4.16.24
Wilson Sonsini Advises Kumquat Biosciences’ $1.2B Strategic Collaboration with Takeda
On April 16, 2024, Kumquat Biosciences, a leader in translating breakthrough science into first-in-class therapeutics, announced a strategic and exclusive collaboration with Takeda to develop and commercialize a novel immuno-oncology small molecule inhibitor as a mono- and/or combination-therapy. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Kumquat Biosciences on the transaction.
Client Highlights
11.14.23
Wilson Sonsini Advises Venatorx on IP Matters Related to Licensing Agreement with Melinta
On November 9, 2023, Melinta Therapeutics LLC (Melinta) and Venatorx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Venatorx), announced that they have entered into a license agreement to facilitate a strategic partnership in the U.S. to commercialize cefepime-taniborbactam, a beta-lactam / beta-lactamase inhibitor (BL/BLI) combination antibiotic being developed for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI) and hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP) in adults. The partnership follows Venatorx’s submission of a New Drug Application for cefepime-taniborbactam for the treatment of cUTI including pyelonephritis, in adults. Venatorx has been assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act target action date for February 22, 2024. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted cefepime-taniborbactam Qualified Infectious Disease Product and Fast Track designations for both the cUTI and HABP/VABP indications.
Client Highlights
6.02.23
Firm Advises Seal Rock Therapeutics on Out-Licensing Agreement with GENFIT
On May 31, 2023, clinical-stage company Seal Rock Therapeutics announced an out-licensing agreement with biopharmaceutical company GENFIT to develop an injectable formulation of SRT-015 to treat acute liver disease. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Seal Rock on the transaction.
Seattle-based Seal Rock is a privately held company that focuses on developing treatments for severe diseases with limited or no available therapies. SRT-015 is a second-generation liver-selective inhibitor that will be available in an oral formulation to treat severe acute alcoholic hepatitis as well as orphan liver diseases.
As part of the agreement, Seal Rock is eligible to receive up to €100 million, which includes regulatory, clinical, and commercial milestone payments, plus tiered royalties.
Wilson Sonsini's team advising Seal Rock includes Miranda Biven, Sai Upadhyayula, Ingo Hardt, Jim Malecha, and Christina Hoong.
For more information, please see the press release.
Seattle-based Seal Rock is a privately held company that focuses on developing treatments for severe diseases with limited or no available therapies. SRT-015 is a second-generation liver-selective inhibitor that will be available in an oral formulation to treat severe acute alcoholic hepatitis as well as orphan liver diseases.
As part of the agreement, Seal Rock is eligible to receive up to €100 million, which includes regulatory, clinical, and commercial milestone payments, plus tiered royalties.
Wilson Sonsini's team advising Seal Rock includes Miranda Biven, Sai Upadhyayula, Ingo Hardt, Jim Malecha, and Christina Hoong.
For more information, please see the press release.