Wenhua Yu Ph.D. (Jocelyn)

Of Counsel

San Diego + 1.858.314.1186

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Dr. Wenhua Yu (Jocelyn) is a seasoned intellectual property (IP) attorney focusing in the life sciences industry. With more than 12 years of practice, she assists clients — ranging from biotech start-ups to multinational pharmaceutical companies — in maximizing IP protection and leveraging IP rights to strengthen business strategies and transactions. Jocelyn's experience spans global patent strategy and portfolio development, IP due diligence, and partnership negotiations.

Jocelyn focuses on crafting tailored IP and patent strategies, working closely with scientific teams to align patenting efforts with therapeutic pipeline development. Her deep technical knowledge covers immunotherapies, gene and cell therapies, vaccines, small-molecule therapeutics, conjugated therapeutics (e.g., ADCs, AOCs, radionuclide conjugates), manufacturing, and delivery technologies (e.g., vectors, LNPs). She has conducted extensive due diligence investigations and provided legal opinions to support R&D, IP, and business strategies for industry leaders, such as BMS/Celgene, Merck & Co., and Johnson & Johnson, and has worked on several commercial products.

Alongside her patent practice, Jocelyn has more than eight years experience advising clients on technology transaction and partnership strategies, including structuring, negotiating, and preparing licensing and collaboration agreements for biotech and pharmaceutical companies. She also counsels clients on post-execution relationship management, investigation, and resolution of IP-related disputes. Jocelyn has represented clients in cross-border transactions between the United States and Asian markets, working with organizations such as Incyte Corporation, Shanghai Junshi, Shanghai Jemincare, and Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals.

Jocelyn co-chairs the IP & Patent Law Committee for Biocom California. Jocelyn serves on the board of directors for SoCal Association for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Advancements (SABPA), leading the Entrepreneur & Partnering Committee.

Experience

  • Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals grants global rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize antibody therapeutic candidatesJones Day advised Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals on granting global rights for collaborations with multiple partners to develop, manufacture, and commercialize antibody therapeutic candidates.
  • Jemincare and RAPT collaborate to develop and commercialize JYB1904Jones Day advised Shanghai Jemincare Pharmaceutical Co., LTD. (Jemincare), a subsidiary of Jiangxi Jemincare Group, a leading pharmaceutical company in China, on its exclusive license agreement with RAPT Therapeutics (Nasdaq: RAPT) for JYB1904, a clinical-stage, half-life extended anti-IgE monoclonal antibody.
  • Merck Animal Health develops global patent portfolios for various veterinary pharmaceuticals and biologics, vaccines, and other health management solutionsJones Day is representing Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., and the global animal health business of Merck, in developing global patent portfolios related to a wide variety of veterinary pharmaceuticals and biologicals, vaccines, and other health management solutions used to preserve and improve the health, well-being, and performance of animals, including companion animals, ruminants, horses, poultry, and swine.
  • VST Bio establishes global patent portfolios related to anti-syndecan-2 antibodies for the treatment of diseases related to vascular permeabilityJones Day is representing VST Bio Corp. in connection with the establishment of a global patent portfolio related to antibodies that target syndecan-2 and uses thereof in the treatment of diseases related to vascular permeability and leakage, including ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction.
  • Incyte grants rights to CMS for ruxolitnib cream in China and Southeast AsiaJones Day represented Incyte Corporation in its Collaboration and License Agreement with CMS Aesthetics Limited for the development and commercialization of ruxolitinib cream, a novel cream formulation of Incyte’s selective JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib, for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory dermatologic diseases in Greater China and certain countries in Southeast Asia. 
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
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    November 2018 Blog

    Assignor Estoppel Does Not Apply to IPRs, PTAB Litigation Blog

    Additional 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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