Senior associate Gregory DeLassus and associate Sheena Wang will be speakers at the 2026 AUTM Annual Meeting taking place February 8-11, 2026, in Seattle, Washington. Greg's roundtable, "AI in Biopharma Licensing: Game-Changer or Gamble?" will take place on Wednesday, February 11, and Sheena's session, "Don't Get Eaten Alive: Lessons on Emerging Industries from the Plant-Based Foods Sector," will be held on Monday, February 9.
Greg's roundtable, where he will be joined by two co-moderators, will discuss the progressively pivotal role AI is playing in transforming the biopharmaceutical licensing landscape, influencing every stage from drug discovery to deal-making. As the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and FDA issue new guidance, and the industry embraces rapid technological advancements, AI's impact in licensing transactions has become a topic of both excitement and skepticism. Some argue the technology may oversimplify complex human decision-making processes, while others see it as a tool that enhances human expertise. This interactive roundtable session will explore how AI is revolutionizing the licensing process, specifically its applications in due diligence, asset valuation, and contract structuring; touch on the most recent regulatory guidance; evaluate AI's strengths and limitations; explore real-world use cases; and discuss strategies for effective integration.
Sheena and her co-panelists' session will explore the plant-based meat sector as a case study in how early innovators can navigate the complex intersection of patents, trade secrets, and enforcement strategy. They will examine real-world legal battles between leading food tech companies to highlight key lessons in IP protection. The session will dive into the patent dispute between Impossible Foods and Motif FoodWorks, including developments in both district court and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and explore the patent versus trade secret clash between Meati Foods and the Better Meat Company. Attendees will gain practical insights on how to maximize patent scope while preserving enforceability, when to rely on trade secrets instead of patents, and how to position an IP portfolio to mitigate risk and support long-term business goals. This session offers a roadmap for building a strong, strategic IP arsenal in fast-moving markets.
The AUTM Annual Meeting is where technology transfer professionals from around the globe meet to connect, make deals and gain insights from world-class speakers and panels.
To learn more, and to register for the 2026 AUTM Annual Meeting, please visit the event website.
