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Uale Taotafa
Senior Counsel
Patents and Innovations
San Diego

D858-350-2336

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  • Represents Life Science Innovators

    Uale has worked with innovators engaged in highly technical fields, including small molecule therapeutics, protein immunotherapies, oncolytic immunotherapies, antibiotics, and biocatalysts.

  • Extensive Experience Representing Companies and Investors in Financings and M&A

    Uale supported Synthorx and Pharmacyclics in each of their $2+ billion acquisitions by a major pharmaceutical company and Synthorx, Tracon, and Optimer on IP matters related to their IPOs. He has supported more than 50 clients undergoing IP diligence for venture rounds of investment. Uale also has represented various venture and investment funds in IP diligence matters.

  • Varied Intellectual Property Practice

    Uale’s practice includes freedom-to-operate and due-diligence studies, opinion work, IP acquisition strategy, and assisting with patent preparation and prosecution. He has been instrumental in the design and IP strategy of Imbruvica, an FDA-approved drug.

  • Informed Technical Experience

    Uale has a Ph.D. in organic chemistry, which helps him understand the complex technical language in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and materials fields.

Uale Taotafa is senior counsel at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. He practices in the area of intellectual property law, including patent preparation, patent prosecution, and counseling clients on intellectual property and related business matters. Uale represents clients in the pharmaceutical, materials, and biotechnology industries. He has analyzed intellectual property portfolios and performed IP due diligence for both venture capital firms and businesses in a variety of investment environments, including mergers and acquisitions. Uale also assists clients with trademark matters in the U.S. and abroad, including the prosecution of trademark applications.

Uale is practicing virtually in Arizona. He is admitted in California and Washington, D.C. He is not admitted in Arizona and therefore not authorized to practice law in Arizona.

Experience

Uale Taotafa is senior counsel at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. He practices in the area of intellectual property law, including patent preparation, patent prosecution, and counseling clients on intellectual property and related business matters. Uale represents clients in the pharmaceutical, materials, and biotechnology industries. He has analyzed intellectual property portfolios and performed IP due diligence for both venture capital firms and businesses in a variety of investment environments, including mergers and acquisitions. Uale also assists clients with trademark matters in the U.S. and abroad, including the prosecution of trademark applications.

Uale is practicing virtually in Arizona. He is admitted in California and Washington, D.C. He is not admitted in Arizona and therefore not authorized to practice law in Arizona.

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Client Highlights
Wilson Sonsini Advises Odyssey Therapeutics on Patent Matters Related to IPO
On May 7, 2026, Odyssey Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company seeking to transform the standard of care for patients suffering from autoimmune and inflammatory diseases by developing medicines that are designed to precisely target disease pathology, announced the pricing of its upsized initial public offering of 15,500,000 shares of its common stock at an initial public offering price of $18.00 per share. In addition, Odyssey has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,325,000 shares of common stock at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. Odyssey’s common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on May 8, 2026, under the ticker symbol “ODTX.” The offering closed on May 11, 2026. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Odyssey on patent matters related to the transaction.
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Client Highlights
Wilson Sonsini Advises Crinetics on Patent Matters Related to Public Offering
On January 6, 2026, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapeutics for endocrine diseases and endocrine-related tumors, announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 7,620,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $45.95 per share. All of the shares to be sold in the offering are to be sold by Crinetics, and the gross proceeds from the offering, before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses, are expected to be approximately $350 million. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Crinetics on patent matters related to the public offering.
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Innovator’s Edge Series: The Life and Death of a Patent Family
A strong patent portfolio starts with thoughtfully-crafted patent strategies. Crafting a patent strategy begins with matching patent filing timelines to business timelines (including IND filings, marketing approval, expected market exclusivities, and fundraising). It also includes detailed planning for global patent protection in light of market opportunities and patent expiration dates. Finally, your patent strategy must also look at how to maximize patent term, for example through strategic use of accelerated filings.
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