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7.11.25
Lawdragon Names 12 Wilson Sonsini Lawyers to Its 2025 List of Next-Generation Lawyers
Twelve Wilson Sonsini attorneys have been recognized in the 2025 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation, the third edition of the guide. Individuals listed in the guide traditionally have “proven themselves early in private practice, accruing credentials, deals, and cases early and often,” with the majority of lawyers having been in practice between seven and fifteen years.
Client Highlights
12.11.24
Wilson Sonsini Advises Nvelop Therapeutics on IP Matters Related to Merger with Chroma
On December 11, 2024, Chroma Medicine and Nvelop Therapeutics announced their merger and subsequent launch of nChroma Bio, a pioneering biotechnology company redefining the future of in vivo targeted genetic medicine to treat a wide array of diseases and bring cures to patients. nChroma also completed a $75 million financing round led by Cormorant Asset Management, ARCH Venture Partners, Atlas Venture, and Newpath Partners. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Nvelop on intellectual property matters related to the transaction.
Alerts
11.23.24
Proposed Rulemaking Issued by the DOJ Covering Data Export Transactions with Entities from Countries of Concern
On October 21, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to implement Executive Order 14117, which authorizes the Attorney General to prohibit or restrict transactions by U.S. persons that could result in the transfer of government-affiliated or bulk U.S. sensitive data to countries of concern or covered persons, and to provide safeguards around other activities that may otherwise provide access to such data.
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
6.10.24
Firm Advises Marengo Therapeutics on Expansion of Research Partnership with Ipsen
On June 7, 2024, global biopharmaceutical company Ipsen and clinical-stage biotech company Marengo Therapeutics announced the expansion of their ongoing oncology research partnership to include TriSTAR, Marengo’s next-generation, precision T cell engager (TCE) technology. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Marengo Therapeutics on the transaction.
Traditional TCEs targeting “cold” tumors have limited efficacy due to poor T cell quality and exhaustion. Marengo’s proprietary first-in-class TriSTAR TCEs have the potential to overcome these limitations, redirecting a new and expanded pool of highly activated memory Vβ T cells to the tumor. The teams will focus on exploring potential in cold tumors, which typically fail to trigger a strong immune response when treated with TCEs.
Under the terms of the agreement, Ipsen will assume responsibility for all activities following development candidate nomination. Marengo will receive an upfront payment and potential payments up to a total of $1.2 billion if all milestones are met, in addition to tiered sales royalty payments.
The Wilson Sonsini team advising Marengo Therapeutics on the transaction included Mark Bellomy, Chris McAndrew, Lauren Wardle, and Angel Wang.
Traditional TCEs targeting “cold” tumors have limited efficacy due to poor T cell quality and exhaustion. Marengo’s proprietary first-in-class TriSTAR TCEs have the potential to overcome these limitations, redirecting a new and expanded pool of highly activated memory Vβ T cells to the tumor. The teams will focus on exploring potential in cold tumors, which typically fail to trigger a strong immune response when treated with TCEs.
Under the terms of the agreement, Ipsen will assume responsibility for all activities following development candidate nomination. Marengo will receive an upfront payment and potential payments up to a total of $1.2 billion if all milestones are met, in addition to tiered sales royalty payments.
The Wilson Sonsini team advising Marengo Therapeutics on the transaction included Mark Bellomy, Chris McAndrew, Lauren Wardle, and Angel Wang.
Client Highlights
3.28.24
Wilson Sonsini Advises Stoke Therapeutics on IP Matters Related to Upsized Public Offering
On March 28, 2024, Stoke Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on developing RNA-based medicines to treat severe diseases, announced the pricing of its upsized underwritten public offering. The company is offering 5,555,557 shares at $13.50 per share and, in lieu of shares to investors that so choose, pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 3,703,730 shares at $13.4999. Stoke has also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,388,893 shares. The gross proceeds from this offering, to be closed on or about April 2, are expected to be $125 million before expenses. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Stoke on IP matters related to the transaction.
Alerts
2.09.24
Bipartisan Legislation Seeks to Clarify Which Inventions Are Patent Eligible
The U.S. patent system is based upon a quid pro quo balance that incentivizes innovation via a time-limited patent exclusivity, while encouraging the dissemination of new ideas for public benefit and use upon expiration of the patented innovation. However, for some innovative technologies, such as personalized medicine, diagnostics, and artificial intelligence (AI), case law developed within the past decade has made obtaining patent protection increasingly difficult. This has led to a lack of clarity and incentive for some innovators to develop technologies that may not be eligible for patent protection.1
Alerts
12.22.23
Draft Guidance Puts March-In Authority Pursuant to Bayh-Dole in the News Once Again
On December 8, 2023, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released the Draft Interagency Guidance Framework for Considering the Exercise of March-In Rights (guidance) to the public for comment. The comment period ends February 6, 2024. The information received in response to the guidance will inform NIST and the Interagency Working Group for Bayh-Dole (IAWGBD) in developing a final framework document that may be used by an agency when deciding whether to exercise its march-in authority. While the guidance is the first federal framework specifying that price can be a factor in considering whether the government may exercise its march-in authority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 200 et seq. (Bayh-Dole), this is not the first time that attention has been drawn to the government’s march-in authority.
Client Highlights
11.29.23
Wilson Sonsini Advises IVIVA on Acquisition by United Therapeutics
In October 2023, United Therapeutics acquired all of the outstanding equity of IVIVA Medical, Inc., a spin-out from the Harvard Stem Cell Institute addressing the chronic shortage of organs available for transplant. IVIVA is developing the IVIVA Kidney, a printed matrix cellularized with a patient’s own cells, which aids in the filtration and reabsorption functions of the native kidney.
Client Highlights
11.15.23
Firm Advises Arcellx on Expansion of Strategic Partnership with Kite
On November 15, 2023, Arcellx, Inc. and Kite, a Gilead company, announced that they have expanded their existing collaboration that was originally announced in December 2022. Kite has exercised its option to negotiate a license for Arcellx's ARC-SparX program, ACLX-001, in multiple myeloma, which is comprised of ARC-T cells and SparX proteins that target BCMA. The companies have also expanded the scope of the collaboration for Arcellx's CART-ddBCMA to include lymphomas. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is advising Arcellx on the transaction.
Upon closing, Arcellx will receive a $200 million equity investment to purchase 3,242,542 shares of its common stock. Following this investment, Gilead's estimated ownership will be 13 percent. Arcellx will also receive an upfront non-dilutive cash payment of $85 million at closing and will be eligible for potential milestone payments, including the advancement of lymphoma and the license for ARC-SparX, as well as additional milestones, to offset prespecified development costs over a limited period of time. The transaction is expected to close around year-end 2023.
The Wilson Sonsini team advising Arcellx on the transaction includes:
Upon closing, Arcellx will receive a $200 million equity investment to purchase 3,242,542 shares of its common stock. Following this investment, Gilead's estimated ownership will be 13 percent. Arcellx will also receive an upfront non-dilutive cash payment of $85 million at closing and will be eligible for potential milestone payments, including the advancement of lymphoma and the license for ARC-SparX, as well as additional milestones, to offset prespecified development costs over a limited period of time. The transaction is expected to close around year-end 2023.
The Wilson Sonsini team advising Arcellx on the transaction includes:
Client Highlights
11.14.23
Wilson Sonsini Advises CARGO Therapeutics on IP Matters Related to $281 Million IPO
On November 10, 2023, CARGO Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech specializing in cancer treatments, made its debut on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker "CRGX" after successfully raising approximately $281 million through its initial public offering (IPO). The company priced its IPO at $15 per share, issuing 18.75 million shares. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised CARGO on patent and technology transactions matters leading up to and with respect to the IPO.