American Conference Institute (ACI) will be holding its 9th Advanced Forum on Biotech Patents: Analysis, Insights and Strategies for New Challenges in Biotech Patent Practice on September 26-27, 2007 in Boston, MA.  The conference will provide practical and tactical advice for adapting current biotech practices to account for follow-on biologics, addressing ethical and practical concerns regarding the patenting of life, developing best practices for biotech patent claim construction, planning for potential changes to the obviousness standard, protecting proprietary information in biotechnology inventions, working effectively with examiners, incorporating Patent Office reforms into biotech patent practices, conducting freedom to operate assessments in biotechnology, prosecuting antibody claims, maximizing patent term extensions, and adjusting patent strategies in accordance with evolving standards for inequitable conduct.  In particular, ACI's faculty of biotech patent practitioners and in-house counsel will offer presentations on the following topics:

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  Debating the Validity and Future of Follow-Ons (Legislative and Regulatory Update)
• The Patenting of Life:  Demystifying Ethical and Practical Concerns
• Keynote Address:  Navigating the Intricacies of USPTO Biotech Patent Practice Including the New Proposed Changes to the Patent Rules
• Evolving Best Practices for Claim Construction in Biotech Patent Applications Filings
• KSR v. Teleflex:  Bracing for the Potentially Damaging Impact on the Obviousness Standard
• Protecting Proprietary Information – Deciding Whether to File for a Patent
• Working Effectively With Examiners When Filing and Drafting Biotech Patent Claims
• Patent Reform at the USPTO:  Where Are We Now?
• Freedom to Operate Assessments in Biotechnology:  Analysis, Opinions and More
• Focus on MedImmune v. Genentech:  Dissecting its Impact on Patent Strategies, Freedom to Operate and Licensee/Licensor Relationships
• Cultivating Biotechnology Patent Strategies in Europe and Asia:  Identifying Differences and Assessing Impact on U.S. Practices
• Maximizing Patent Term Extension and Adjustment
• Prosecuting Antibody Claims – Tactics for Addressing the Many Challenges
• Interpreting Recent Decisions Regarding Inequitable Conduct and Adjusting Patent Strategies Accordingly

Among the conference's speakers will be John J. Doll, Commissioner of Patents for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, who will be presenting the keynote address entitled "Navigating the Intricacies of USPTO Biotech Patent Practice Including the New Proposed Changes to the Patent Rules," and Patent Docs author Kevin E. Noonan, who will be discussing the Supreme Court's decision in KSR International Co. v. Teleflex Inc.

An additional Master Class on "Drafting Successful Patent Applications for Biotechnology Related Inventions" will be offered on September 28, 2007.

The agenda for the Biotech Patents conference can be found here.  A complete brochure for this conference, including an agenda, list of speakers, and registration form can be downloaded here.

The registration fee ranges from $1,995 (conference alone) to $2,595 (conference and master class).  Those interested in registering for the conference and workshop can do so here or by calling 1-888-224-2480.

Patent Docs is a media sponsor of ACI's 9th Advanced Forum on Biotech Patents.