Sean A. Reed
Associate
Dr. Sean Reed is an associate in the San Diego office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he is a member of the patents and innovations practice. His practice is focused on intellectual property matters related to chemistry, chemical biology, and pharmaceuticals.
Prior to joining the firm, Sean was an NIH postdoctoral research fellow at the Scripps Research Institute, where he gained significant experience in the synthetic biology field. His work focused on the incorporation of unnatural amino acids into thiopeptide antibiotics and the creation of reduced amino acid organisms. Previously, he completed his doctoral degree at the University of Illinois, where his dissertation focused on the development and application of new carbon-hydrogen bond activation reactions to streamline the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates and diversify natural product scaffolds.
Experience
Dr. Sean Reed is an associate in the San Diego office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he is a member of the patents and innovations practice. His practice is focused on intellectual property matters related to chemistry, chemical biology, and pharmaceuticals.
Prior to joining the firm, Sean was an NIH postdoctoral research fellow at the Scripps Research Institute, where he gained significant experience in the synthetic biology field. His work focused on the incorporation of unnatural amino acids into thiopeptide antibiotics and the creation of reduced amino acid organisms. Previously, he completed his doctoral degree at the University of Illinois, where his dissertation focused on the development and application of new carbon-hydrogen bond activation reactions to streamline the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates and diversify natural product scaffolds.
Education
- J.D., University of San Diego School of Law, 2022
- Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2012
- B.S., Chemistry and Psychology, Iowa State University, 2005
Associations and Memberships
- Member, San Diego Intellectual Property Law Association
Admissions
- State Bar of California
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Credentials
Education
- J.D., University of San Diego School of Law, 2022
- Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2012
- B.S., Chemistry and Psychology, Iowa State University, 2005
Associations and Memberships
- Member, San Diego Intellectual Property Law Association
Admissions
- State Bar of California
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Select Publications
- Co-author with A. Mehta, H. Li, L. Supekova, T. Javahishvili, and P. Schultz, "Replacement of 2'-deoxycytidine by 2'-deoxycytidine Analogs in the E. coli Genome," 138(43) Journal of the American Chemical Society 14230-3, 2016
- Co-author with A. Mehta, H. Li, L. Supekova, T. Javahishvili, and P. Schultz, "Replacement of Nucleosides by a Modified Base in the E. coli Genome," 138(23) Journal of the American Chemical Society 7272-5, 2016
- Co-author with X. Luo, C. Zambaldo, T. Liu, Y. Zhang, W. Xuan, C. Wang, P. Yang, R.E. Wang, T. Javahishvilli, P. Schultz, and T. Young, "Recombinant Thiopeptides Containing Noncanonical Amino Acids," 113(13) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 3615-20, 2016
- Co-author with T. Liu, Y. Wang, X. Luo, J. Li, H. Xiao, T. Young, and P. Schultz, "Enhancing Protein Stability with Extended Disulfide Bonds," 113(21) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 5910-5, 2016
- Co-author with H. Xiao, F. Nasertorabi, S.H. Choi, G. Han, R. Stevens, and P. Schultz, "Exploring the potential impact of an expanded genetic code on protein function," 112(22) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 6961-6, 2015
- Coauthor with H. Xiao, F. Peters, P.Y. Yang, J. Chittuluru, and P. Schultz, "Genetic incorporation of histidine derivatives using an engineered pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase," 9(5) ACS Chemical Biology 1092-6, 2014
- Co-author with M. Bigi and M. White, "Directed metal(oxo) aliphatic C—H hydroxylation: Overriding substrate bias," 134(23) Journal of the American Chemical Society 9721-6, 2012
- Co-author with M. Bigi and M. White, "Diverting non-haem iron catalysed aliphatic C—H hydroxylations towards desaturations," 3 Nature Chemistry 216-22, 2011
- Co-author with A. Mazzotti and M. White, "A Catalytic, Brønsted Base Strategy for Intermolecular Allylic C—H Amination," 131(33) Journal of the American Chemical Society 11701-6, 2009
- Co-author with M. White, "Catalytic, Intermolecular Linear Allylic C—H Amination via Hetereobimetallic Catalysis," 130(11) Journal of the American Chemical Society 3316-8, 2008
Insights
Select Publications
- Co-author with A. Mehta, H. Li, L. Supekova, T. Javahishvili, and P. Schultz, "Replacement of 2'-deoxycytidine by 2'-deoxycytidine Analogs in the E. coli Genome," 138(43) Journal of the American Chemical Society 14230-3, 2016
- Co-author with A. Mehta, H. Li, L. Supekova, T. Javahishvili, and P. Schultz, "Replacement of Nucleosides by a Modified Base in the E. coli Genome," 138(23) Journal of the American Chemical Society 7272-5, 2016
- Co-author with X. Luo, C. Zambaldo, T. Liu, Y. Zhang, W. Xuan, C. Wang, P. Yang, R.E. Wang, T. Javahishvilli, P. Schultz, and T. Young, "Recombinant Thiopeptides Containing Noncanonical Amino Acids," 113(13) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 3615-20, 2016
- Co-author with T. Liu, Y. Wang, X. Luo, J. Li, H. Xiao, T. Young, and P. Schultz, "Enhancing Protein Stability with Extended Disulfide Bonds," 113(21) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 5910-5, 2016
- Co-author with H. Xiao, F. Nasertorabi, S.H. Choi, G. Han, R. Stevens, and P. Schultz, "Exploring the potential impact of an expanded genetic code on protein function," 112(22) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 6961-6, 2015
- Coauthor with H. Xiao, F. Peters, P.Y. Yang, J. Chittuluru, and P. Schultz, "Genetic incorporation of histidine derivatives using an engineered pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase," 9(5) ACS Chemical Biology 1092-6, 2014
- Co-author with M. Bigi and M. White, "Directed metal(oxo) aliphatic C—H hydroxylation: Overriding substrate bias," 134(23) Journal of the American Chemical Society 9721-6, 2012
- Co-author with M. Bigi and M. White, "Diverting non-haem iron catalysed aliphatic C—H hydroxylations towards desaturations," 3 Nature Chemistry 216-22, 2011
- Co-author with A. Mazzotti and M. White, "A Catalytic, Brønsted Base Strategy for Intermolecular Allylic C—H Amination," 131(33) Journal of the American Chemical Society 11701-6, 2009
- Co-author with M. White, "Catalytic, Intermolecular Linear Allylic C—H Amination via Hetereobimetallic Catalysis," 130(11) Journal of the American Chemical Society 3316-8, 2008
Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
- Bioconjugation
- Genomics
- Molecular biology
- PCR
Therapeutics and Drug Discovery
- Drug conjugates
- Peptide therapeutics
- RNA interference (RNAi)
- Small molecule synthesis
- Small molecules
Chemistry and Material Science
- Catalysis
- Chemical synthesis
- Chemistry
- Chemoenzymatic synthesis
- Organic chemistry
- Peptidomimetics
- Protein engineering
Genomics and Data Analysis
- Next-generation sequencing
Technical Fluency
Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
- Bioconjugation
- Genomics
- Molecular biology
- PCR
Therapeutics and Drug Discovery
- Drug conjugates
- Peptide therapeutics
- RNA interference (RNAi)
- Small molecule synthesis
- Small molecules
Chemistry and Material Science
- Catalysis
- Chemical synthesis
- Chemistry
- Chemoenzymatic synthesis
- Organic chemistry
- Peptidomimetics
- Protein engineering
Genomics and Data Analysis
- Next-generation sequencing
Recent Insights
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Wilson Sonsini Advises Oak Hill Bio on Patent Matters Related to $32.5 Million Series A Financing
On June 1, 2026, Oak Hill Bio, a clinical-stage rare disease therapeutics company, announced the closing of a $32.5 million Series A financing. The round was co-led by Balyasny Asset Management, venBio, and Janus Henderson Investors, with participation from KCap Biotechnology Fund. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Oak Hill Bio on patent matters related to the transaction.
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Wilson Sonsini Advises Frazier Life Sciences on IP Matters Related to Immutrin’s $87 Million Series A
On March 24, 2026, Immutrin, a biotechnology company developing next generation antibody therapy to reverse amyloidosis, announced it has successfully raised $87 million in a Series A financing. The round was led by new investor Frazier Life Sciences, with participation from F-Prime, Qiming Venture Partners, SR One, and founding investors Cambridge Innovation Capital and Cambridge Enterprise Ventures. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Frazier Life Sciences on patent matters related to the transaction.
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