Lorna L. Tanner

Tanner works with breakthrough pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients in the Bay Area, developing global patent portfolios for drugs and biologics. She represents startups and mid-size pharmaceutical companies including Global Blood Therapeutics Inc. and Portola Pharmaceuticals Inc., along with biopharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences Inc.

“Some clients need to have long-term patent protection for an about-to-be approved drug or approved drug. Some clients need a robust patent estate to make them look good to their investors,” Tanner said. “It’s really [about] understanding where the company is at, and what their immediate and long-term business needs are.”

Tanner and her team represent Denali Therapeutics Inc. in its small molecule patent portfolio. Denali is developing a diversified portfolio of treatments for patients with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

She recently wrote and prosecuted the patents underlying Denali’s deal with French drug giant Sanofi. The collaboration aims to develop two lead molecules with the potential to treat a range of neurological and systemic inflammatory diseases. The companies plan to study one of them in multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and the other molecule in systemic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

“It was exciting because we started working with Denali right away on that particular target, so we were able to jump in with the scientist at the very beginning and then see it go through the diligence process, and actually enter into this great collaboration,” she said.

Tanner also develops and manages the patent portfolios for Portola Pharmaceuticals’ products: Bevyxxa, a blood thinner; Andexxa, which is used to reverse anticoagulation effects; and lead clinical candidate Cerdulatinib. She handled a licensing deal with Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Pfizer Inc. relating to development and commercial rights in Japan, as well as the IP diligence related to Portola’s IPO in 2013, which raised $122 million.

In August, she was part of the Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton team that represented Aridis Pharmaceuticals Inc. in its $26 million IPO. The late-stage biopharmaceutical company focuses on the discovery and development of targeted immunotherapy using fully human monoclonal antibodies to treat life-threatening infections.

— Jennifer Chung Klam