LIFE SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

Thompson Coburn helps life science companies thrive in a highly regulated, competitive and complex industry. Our clients range from emerging technology companies to well-established multinational corporations and universities involved in a wide variety of businesses, including food, drugs, biologics, medical devices, and tobacco.

Our attorneys have a comprehensive understanding of the industry’s special business and legal challenges in getting products to market and marketplace positioning, including intellectual property protection and regulatory compliance, as well as corporate and financial structuring. We regularly represent clients in state and federal court litigation and guide them through the many federal and state agencies that affect their operations, including the following:

• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Federal Trade Commission
• Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
• Drug Enforcement Administration
• U.S. Department of Justice
• Related State Agencies    

The clients we serve include:

• Medical device and diagnostic companies
• Animal health companies (drugs, supplements, feeds and feed additives)
• Food companies
• Dietary supplement companies
• Prescription and over-the-counter drug companies
• Biologic companies
• Universities and research centers
• Clinical trial organizations
• Tobacco companies
• Cosmetics and personal care companies

Our life sciences industry team practices in nearly every business-essential area of law, including patent and trademark prosecution and litigation, corporate and finance, regulatory compliance, agency investigations and tech transfer and licensing. On the transactional side, we represent life sciences clients in private placements, fundraising, asset acquisitions and spinoffs and sales of assets. And, because life science companies also are employers, we provide advice and representation in whistleblower, retaliation, discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, wrongful discharge and other employment claims and issues.

The firm’s full-service business capabilities are a benefit to life sciences companies. Having one law firm oversee a company’s or product’s complete lifecycle – from early inception, through intellectual property protection, licensing, sale of the asset, merger/acquisition, or product launch and thereafter – creates not only cost efficiencies but stronger, streamlined, consistent legal strategies. In addition, our life sciences clients benefit by working with attorneys who speak their language. Many of our professionals hold advanced degrees in agriculture, biology and biotechnology, including Ph.D.’s.