Named an "IP Trailblazer" by The National Law Journal, Dr. Tamera (Tammy) Weisser is leader of Jones Day's global patent prosecution group and has more than 25 years of experience in global patent portfolio development, management, and enforcement in biotechnology, particularly in the areas of antibodies, cell therapies, gene therapies, and diagnostics. Her practice also includes performing patent validity and freedom-to-operate analyses and conducting due diligence of patent portfolios for clients, including potential investors, acquirers, and licensees.
On behalf of BioMarin, she established a worldwide patent portfolio for Palynziq®, an FDA-approved enzyme replacement therapy for phenylketonuria treatment. On behalf of NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Tammy coordinates the global patent strategy concerning aldafermin in clinical trials for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), as well as the therapeutic antibodies NGM707, NGM831, and NGM438 for the treatment of cancers and tumors. She has developed IP strategies for dozens of antibody therapeutics for clients, including AbbVie, Astellas/Agensys, BMS/Celgene, Kyowa Kirin, Merck, and Xencor. Commercial products for which Tammy has experience include Carvykti®, Embosphere®, Humira®, Kynamro®, Otezla®, Palynziq®, Pomalyst®, Revlimid®, and Synagis®.
In addition, Tammy has in-depth experience in inter partes review (IPR) proceedings. For example, she successfully defended AbbVie in two IPRs brought by Amgen, five IPRs brought by Coherus, and another IPR brought by Sandoz in connection with patents related to formulations for AbbVie's antibody adalimumab, marketed as Humira®, in which the PTAB denied institution of each petition.
Most recently, Tammy served on the board of governors of BIOCOM, and she is consistently recognized as a top lawyer and for her leadership and contribution within the community.
Experience
Additional Publications
- 2001
Th1 genetic adjuvants modulate immune responses in neonates, Vaccine. 19(13-14): 1764-1771 - 2000
DNA vaccines: Basic studies and applications, Advances in Virus Research, K. Maramorosch, F. Murphy, and A. Shatkin eds., Academic Press, New York, NY. 1-74 - 2000
DNA vaccines for influenza virus: Differential effects of maternal antibody on immune responses to hemagglutinin and nucleoprotein, J. Virol., 74(17)7787-7793 - 2000
Characterization of immune responses following neonatal DNA immunization, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Doctoral Thesis - 1999
Studies on antibody responses following neonatal immunization with influenza hemagglutinin DNA or protein, Virology, 257(2):406-414 - 1998
Nucleic acid immunizations, in Current Protocols in Immunology, R. Coico ed., John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY. 2.14.1-2.14.19 - 1996
Influenza nucleoprotein-specific immunoglobulin G subclass and cytokine responses elicited by DNA vaccination are dependent on the route of vector DNA delivery, J. Virol, 70(9):6119-6125 - 1995
Gene gun-based nucleic acid immunization: Elicitation of humoral and cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses following epidermal delivery of nanogram quantities of DNA, Vaccine, 13(15):1427-1430 - 1994
Accell® particle-mediated DNA immunization elicits humoral, cytotoxic, and protective immune responses, AIDS Res. Hum. Retroviruses, 10 Suppl. 2:S43-S45
Additional Speaking Engagements
- May 11, 2020
Strategic Legal Considerations for Development and Enforcement of Biologic Formulation Patent Portfolios, CLE Presentation - March 3, 2020
Protecting Your Patents: Preparing for IPRs and Hatch-Waxman Litigation, Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) CLE Presentation - February 10, 2020
Life Sciences Global Patent Legal Developments & Strategy, CLE Presentation - October 21, 2019
Key Developments Relating to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for the Life Sciences Industry, Webinar Presentation - March 21, 2019
Antibody Patenting Strategies, CLE Presentation - April 13, 2018
Update on Biosimilar Litigation: Beginning to Unwrap the "Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Inside an Enigma," CLE Presentation - April 5, 2018
Strategies for Patent Portfolio Development in the Life Sciences Industry, CLE Presentation - January 30, 2018
PD1 & PCSK9 Antibodies: Recent Developments in Patent Disputes, Presentation - January 29, 2018
Antibody IP Portfolio Development, Management and Enforcement, Presentation - January 27, 2018
Patenting Strategies for Immuno-oncology Companies, Presentation - October 5, 2016
Professional Advancement: How to Make the Ask, Lawyers Club of San Diego - October 3, 2016
Intellectual Property 101: Introduction to Patents and Technology Transfer in Industry and Academic Settings, Association for Women in Science - June 10, 2015
The Scientist Magazine, Virtual Career Expo: Law & Regulatory Affairs, Webinar - March 21, 2015
PhD STEM Career Symposium: Intellectual Property Law, Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute - August 26, 2014
University of San Diego School of Law Diversity Reception - May 19, 2014
VIP Mentor Panel, 29th Annual California Women's Conference - March 1, 2014
PhD STEM Career Symposium: Intellectual Property Law, Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute - February 5, 2013
Jones Day San Diego sponsors and hosts Lawyers' Club Work/Life Balance CLE program - February 4, 2013
Jones Day San Francisco sponsors and hosts the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) "Strategy Sessions" seminar - October 4, 2012
Jones Day Hosts California Client Development Event for Women - June 4, 2012
AWIS Strategy Session, Professional Development Seminar - May 19, 2012
Ph.D. Career Conference Panel Discussion, University of California San Diego - March 26, 2012
IP Law Career Panel Discussion, University of San Diego School of Law - August 2, 2011
Jones Day hosts Lawyers Club Work/Life Balance Lunch CLE Program in San Diego - August 1, 2011
Jones Day hosts Association for Women in Science (AWIS) Strategy Session in San Diego - June 15, 2011
Intellectual Property and Next Generation Sequencing, CLE presentation - June 7, 2011
Jones Day hosts Lawyers Club Work/Life Balance Lunch CLE Program in San Diego - June 6, 2011
Jones Day hosts Association for Women in Science (AWIS) Strategy Session in San Diego - May 14, 2011
AWIS Women in Science and Technology Conference: Patent Law, Salk Institute for Biological Studies - May 2, 2011
Introduction to Patent Law: Stem Cell Patents, California Polytechnic State University - May 2011
Women in Science and Technology (WIST) conference - April 4, 2011
Association for Women in Science (AWIS) bi-monthly Strategy Sessions - November 18, 2010
Association for Women in Science (AWIS) Alternative Careers Panel Discussion: Patent Law - May 10, 2010
Introduction to Patent Law: Patenting Stem Cells, California Polytechnic State University - March 11, 2010
Introduction to Patent Law, San Diego State University - August 12, 2009
Patents 101, Licensing and Exhaustion, CLE presentation
- Georgetown University (J.D. 2004); University of Massachusetts Medical School (Ph.D. in Immunology and Virology 2000); University of Wisconsin-Madison (B.S. in Molecular Biology 1993)
- California, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
2024: "Women of Influence — 50 Over 50," San Diego Business Journal
2024: Chambers — individually ranked
2021, 2020, 2018, 2017: "Top Women Lawyers in California," The Daily Journal
2018-2019: "Top Intellectual Property Lawyers in California," The Daily Journal
2018: "IP Trailblazers," National Law Journal
2016-2019: recommended lawyer, Legal 500 US
2016-2024: Super Lawyers, San Diego