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Michael Sitzman

Michael Sitzman

Partner
US Chair Life Sciences Patent Litigation
San Francisco
About

For more than 25 years, Michael has represented biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies in high stakes patent litigation and other intellectual property matters. Michael has litigated cases involving recombinant DNA, CAR-T technology, glycobiology, antisense technology, protein synthesis and regulation and immunological markers for such companies as Allergan, Alza, Depomed, Genentech, Gilead, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Medicis, Merck Serono, Novo Nordisk and Ultragenyx.

Michael represents brand-name and innovator pharmaceutical companies in biologic and drug patent litigation, including ANDA litigation. Michael was one of the chief architects of the strategy for Novo Nordisk that culminated in the Supreme Court's first substantive review of the Hatch-Waxman Act. 

Before becoming an attorney, Michael worked at the UC Davis Plant Growth Laboratory and Biogenex, combining the fields of immunology, histology and general chemistry.

Michael regularly appears pro hac vice in the district courts of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and the Southern District of New York. He is a Global Fellow of the Federal Circuit Bar Association and speaks regularly at PLI and ACI conferences on issues of biotechnology and pharmaceutical patent law.

Areas of FocusIntellectual PropertyLife Sciences Intellectual PropertyPatent Litigation
Bar admissionsCaliforniaSupreme Court of the United StatesUnited States Patent and Trademark Office
CourtsAll California state and federal district courtsUnited States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

EXPERIENCE

  • Allergan, Inc. and Medytox v. Daewoong Pharm and Evolus (International Trade Commission 2020) – dispute over genetic origin of C. Botulinum toxin strain and process parameters used to manufacture botulinum neurotoxin product
  • Takeda, Millennium Pharm. v. Genentech, Inc. (Del. Ch. 2018) – licensing dispute over patents claiming the use of monoclonal antibodies with high levels of fucose in order to decrease ADCC activity and corresponding levels of inflammation
  • Juno Therapeutics & Memorial Sloan Kettering v. Kite Pharma (C.D. Cal. 2017) – biologic patent litigation involving chimeric antigen receptor technology (CAR-T) for T-cells targeting CD19 and FDA's first approved CAR-T, axicabtagene ciloleucel (YESCARTA™), for the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Depomed v. Actavis, Roxane & Alkem (Fed. Cir. 2017; D.N.J. 2016) — ANDA litigation against generic applicants for various dosage forms of tapentadol hydrochloride (NUCYNTA®) for the treatment of polyneuropathic pain and diabetic peripheral neuropathy
  • Shire Pharm. v. Ultragenyx Pharm. (D.Mass. 2017) – trade secret litigation involving the ultra-rare disease mucopolysaccharidosis VII (MPS VII) and its first treatment, MEPSEVII
  • Oakwood Labs v. Aurobindo Pharma. (D.N.J. 2017) – trade secret litigation involving formulation of peptide-based microspheres encapsulating leuprolide and octreotide for injectable devices
  • Takeda v. Burwell (D.D.C. 2014; D.C. Cir. 2016) – challenging FDA's improper approval of 505(b)(2) generic colchicine drug (Colcrys®) without requiring patent certification to method of use patents
  • Almha v. Allergan (D. Kan. 2013) – defense of patent infringement allegations concerning structural elements of an improved inframammary breast prosthesis
  • Medicis v. GlaxoSmithKline & Stiefel (W.D. Tex. 2012, D.N.J. 2012) – patent litigation against 505(b)(2) competitor using the patented formulation for Ziana® product
  • Medicis v. Actavis (D. Del. 2012) – ANDA litigation against generic applicant for drug combination clindamycin phosphate/tretinoin topical gel for dermatological applications
  • Novo Nordisk v. Caraco Labs & Sun Pharm. (S.Ct. 2011; Fed. Cir. 2010; E.D. Mich. 2009) – litigation and appeals concerning the change in use code narrative associated with Novo Nordisk's Prandin®
  • Novo Nordisk v. Caraco, Sun, Mylan, Paddock, Sandoz & Aurobindo, (Fed. Cir. 2012; E.D. Mich. 2011 & 2012; D.N.J. 2009; D. Minn. 2011) – ANDA litigation against generic applicants for repaglinide (PRANDIN®) for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes when used in combination with metformin
  • Novo Nordisk v. Actavis, Sandoz & Lupin (S.D.N.Y. 2011) – ANDA litigation against generic applicants for the single dose combination product repaglinide/metformin (Prandimet®) for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes
  • Isis Pharmaceutical v. Santaris Pharma A/S (S.D. Cal. 2012) – defense of patent infringement allegations arising out of the development of antisense oligonucleotides (LNAs) for the treatment of various diseases and medical conditions
  • Biogen IDEC MA v. Merck Serono (D.N.J. 2011) – defense of patent infringement allegations arising out of the production of interferon-β in CHO cells under the biologics license granted by FDA
  • In re: Ditropan Litigation (N.D. Cal. 2008) – defense of antitrust claims arising out of ANDA litigation concerning generic oxybutynin for the treatment of urological disorders
  • Thoratec v. Bodycote – defense of patent infringement allegations concerning a biocompatible coating used in cardiovascular implantable devices
  • C.R. Bard v. AHI Cardiovascular Surgeons, Inc. (D. Ariz.) – patent litigation arising out of inventorship and ownership claims to original patented stent technology
  • Impra, Inc. v. Endomed (D. Ariz.) – defense of patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation allegations arising out of the design of polytetraflouroetheylene (PTFE) vascular grafts
Education
  • J.D., University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
    Order of the Coif
  • B.S., Molecular Genetics, University of California at Davis

Awards

  • The Legal 500 United States
    2020-21 - Recommended, Patent Litigation: Full Coverage

Seminars

My latest insights

Past event
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18th Annual Paragraph IV Disputes Conference

19 April 2023 .3 minute read

Publication
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Skinny enough? Amarin v. Hikma reexamines induced infringment with carveout labels

13 January 2022 .4 minute read

Publication
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Valeant v. Mylan: What venues are left for Hatch-Waxman cases?

10 November 2020 .6 minute read

View All

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Phone

+1 415 615 6175
(Work, San Francisco)
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