WenhuaYu Ph.D. (Jocelyn)

Associate

San Diego + 1.858.314.1186

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Dr. Wenhua Yu (Jocelyn) focuses her legal practice on assisting clients in the life science industry in maximizing intellectual property (IP) protection and leveraging IP rights in business strategies and international transactions. She services clients ranging from biotech start-ups to the largest international pharmaceutical companies.

Jocelyn assists clients in constructing, developing, and managing global patent portfolios. She has extensive experience in designing, preparing, and prosecuting patent applications in the United States and in countries around the world. Her main technology areas include immunotherapies (including antibodies, immunocytokines, and next-generation antibody platforms), gene therapies (including mRNA-based, viral or nonviral vector-based therapeutics), cell therapies (including CAR-T, stem cell, iPSC, CAR-NK therapeutics), diagnostics and precision medicine, gene editing (CRISPR), natural peptide platforms, and microbial engineering technology. She also frequently conducts due diligence investigations and provides legal opinions to assist with clients' IP, R&D, and business strategies, including patent evaluations, IP landscape searches, patentability opinions, validity opinions, and freedom-to-operate opinions.

Jocelyn also assists biotech and pharmaceutical companies in constructing technology transactions and collaborations (including IP licensing transactions, funded research, and joint research and development collaborations) with a focus on cross-border transactions between U.S. and Asian markets. She frequently assists clients in negotiating, reviewing, and drafting various commercial agreements involving IP rights and conducts legal, technical, IP, and pharmaceutical regulatory compliance due diligence investigations to support the transactions.

Experience

  • Suzhou Abogen Biosciences establishes global patent portfolios for mRNA-based vaccines and nano-delivery platform technologiesJones Day represents Suzhou Abogen Biosciences Co., Ltd. in the establishment and prosecution of global patent portfolios related to mRNA-based vaccines for infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, as well as nano-delivery platform technologies.
  • DNARx develops global patent portfolios for HEDGES™ gene therapy platformJones Day represents DNARx, LLC in the development and prosecution of global patent portfolios related to HEDGES™ (High-level Extended Duration Gene Express System), DNARx's proprietary non-viral gene therapy together with gene-based, highly combinatorial anti-pandemic monoclonal antibody cDNA-encoded protein delivery platform technology for the treatment of various unmet medical needs.
  • Celgene develops global patent portfolio for agonistic anti-PD1 antibody therapeuticsJones Day represents Celgene Corporation in the establishment of a global patent portfolio related to agonistic anti-PD1 therapeutic antibodies.
  • Burning Rock establishes global patent portfolio for NGS-related diagnostics and precision oncologyJones Day represents Burning Rock in the development and prosecution of global patent portfolios related to next generation sequencing (NGS) technology for diagnostic and of precision oncology.
  • Junshi and Lilly to develop and commercialize antibodies for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 coronavirusJones Day represented Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd. in its strategic collaboration and license agreement with Eli Lilly and Company for the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of two antibodies for the prevention and treatment of the COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus.
  • Celgene acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb for approximately $74 billionJones Day advised Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG) in connection with the intellectual property and technology transactions aspects of its cash-and-stock merger with Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) which has an equity value of approximately $74 billion.
  • VersaPeutics collaborates with UCSD in developing pharmaceutical candidates for treatment of neurological and oncological diseasesJones Day represented VersaPeutics, Inc. in its strategic collaboration and license agreement with University of California San Diego ("UCSD") for the development of pre-clinical stage therapeutic candidates for the treatment of certain neurological and oncological diseases.
  • Sanofi and Denali Therapeutics collaborate to develop treatments for neurological and inflammatory diseasesJones Day represented Sanofi in its strategic collaboration and license agreement with Denali Therapeutics for the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of many pre-clinical and clinical candidates for treatment of certain neurological and systemic inflammatory diseases, including those known to target RIPK1, such as MS, Alzheimer's Disease and ALS, and rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Celgene acquires Juno Therapeutics for $9 billionOn behalf of Celgene Corporation, Jones Day conducted a large-scale intellectual property due diligence review and evaluation of matters related to its definitive merger agreement and acquisition of Juno Therapeutics for approximately $9 billion, including Juno’s technology related to CAR-T and TCR cellular immunotherapeutics for use in oncology and other indications.
  • AbbVie acquires Mitokinin, Inc.Jones Day advised AbbVie Inc. in its exclusive right to acquire Mitokinin, Inc., a biotechnology company developing PINK1-targeted therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, following completion of IND enabling studies on Mitokinin's lead PINK1 compound.
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    November 2018 Blog

    Assignor Estoppel Does Not Apply to IPRs, PTAB Litigation Blog

    Speaking Engagements

    • October 27, 2022
      Practical Considerations in Continuation/Divisional Patent Application Practice
    • September 28, 2022
      Key topics for negotiation in Cross-the-Border Out-Licensing of Pharmaceutical Assets and Case Studies (Presentation in Mandarin)
    • January 25, 2022
      Key Topics For Negotiation in Life Science Licensing Transactions
    • November 7, 2018
      Licensing Fundamentals for Business Executives and Startups

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