James D. DeZazzo

Mr. DeZazzo is patent counsel in the Intellectual Property Practice Group in the firm's Washington, D.C. office.

Education

• J.D., Wayne State University Law School, 2003, Ferne Walter Scholarship, Bronze Key Certificate
• Ph.D., University of Michigan Medical School, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Thurnau Research Fellow, Sigma XI Society
• B.A., Colby College, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Dana Scholar, Bixler Scholar

Admissions

• New York Bar (Reg. No. 4,237,376)
• United State Patent and Trademark Office (Reg. No. 54,931)
• United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
• Federal Bar Council

Patent prosecution, counseling, and litigation for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and consumer product clients:

·          Lead associate representing emerging pharmaceutical company focused on modified release formulations to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Analyze patent estate and target product profiles; participate in monthly teleconferences with company management; advise in-house patent counsel on issues pertaining to patent portfolio development and prosecution.

·          Responsible attorney representing biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Draft patent applications and responses pertaining to cellular immunology; transgenic systems and therapeutic methods for cardiovascular disease; and detection assays for genetic and genomic applications. Prepare clearance and infringement opinions regarding patents directed to small molecule drugs and to antibody expression systems.

·          Core member of two patent interference teams, representing a genetic technology company regarding multiplex screening assays, and a major pharmaceutical company regarding small molecule compounds. Review prior art, patent families, and propose preliminary motions; draft motions, oppositions, and replies; provide strategic advice to client; work closely with expert to draft multiple affidavits.

·          Central member of interoffice team representing brand-name pharmaceutical company in multi-district Hatch Waxman litigation pertaining to extended release drug formulations. Analyze new drug applications; supervise document review and production; draft infringement opinions; research FDA regulations; draft discovery responses and communications to opposing counsel; identify and work with experts and consultants; write expert reports; prepare fact and expert witnesses; draft deposition outlines; assist in taking and defending depositions; and help draft summary judgment briefs.

·          Scientific counsel for trial team in ongoing case related to environmental tobacco smoke and lung cancer. Review attorney arguments pertaining to causality issues; draft reports based on targeted review of scientific literature; propose outline for jury presentation.

·          Lead and originating attorney representing biotechnology company in successful enforcement of patent rights covering genetic diagnostics.

·          Lead attorney for pro bono team winning asylum for refugeee in New York Immigration court; Counsel for start-up business, providing advice regarding trademark and patent strategy.

Articles

Legal

DeZazzo, J. and Miller, S. (2006). Lessons from Purdue: Patent Practitioner Tips for Avoiding Inequitable Conduct Claims. Patent Strategy & Management, November 2006.

Scientific

DeZazzo, J.D., Sandstrom, D., deBelle, S., Velinzon, K., Smith, P., DelVecchio, M., and Tully, T. (2000). nalyot, a mutation of the Drosophila myb-related Adf1 transcription factor, disrupts synapse formation and olfactory memory. Neuron 27, 145-158.

DeZazzo, J. D., Xia, S., Christensen, J., Velinzon, K., and Tully, T. (1999). Developmental expression of an amn+ transgene rescues the mutant memory defect of amnesiac adults. J. Neuroscience 19, 8740-8748.

Moore, M.S., DeZazzo, J., Luk, A.Y., Tully, T., Singh, C.M., and Heberlein, U. (1998). Ethanol intoxication in Drosophila: genetic and pharmacological evidence for regulation by the cAMPsignaling pathway. Cell 93, 997-1007.

Gilmartin, G. M., Hung S. L., DeZazzo J. D., Fleming E.S., and Imperiale M. J. (1996). Sequences regulating poly(A) site selection within the adenovirus major late transcription unit influence the interaction of constitutive processing factors with the pre-mRNA. J. Virol. 70, 1775-1783.

Tully, T., Bolwig, G., Christensen, J., Connolly, J., DelVecchio, M., DeZazzo, J., Dubnau, J., Jones, C., Pinto, S., Regulski, M., Svedberg and Velinzon, K. (1996). A return to genetic dissection of memory in Drosophila. CSH Symp. Quant. Biol. 61, 207-218.

DeZazzo, J. and Tully, T. (1995). The dissection of memory formation: from behavioral pharmacology to molecular genetics. Trends in Neurosciences 18, 212-218.

DeZazzo, J. D., Scott, J. M., and Imperiale, M. J. (1992). Relative roles of signals upstream of AAUAAA and promoter proximity in regulation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 mRNA 3' end formation. Mol. Cell. Biol. 12, 5555-5562.

Imperiale, M. J., and DeZazzo, J. D. (1991). Poly(A) site choice in retroelements: Deja vu all over again? The New Biologist 6, 531-537.

DeZazzo, J. D., Falck-Pedersen, E. F., and Imperiale, M. J. (1991). Sequences regulating temporal poly(A) site switching in the adenovirus major late transcription unit. Mol. Cell. Biol. 11, 5977-5984.

DeZazzo, J. D., Kilpatrick, J. E., and Imperiale, M. J. (1991). Involvement of long terminal repeat U3 sequences overlapping the transcription control region in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 mRNA 3' end formation. Mol. Cell. Biol. 11, 1624-1630.

DeZazzo, J. D., and Imperiale, M. J. (1989). Sequences upstream of AAUAAA influence poly(A) site selection in a complex transcription unit. Mol. Cell. Biol. 9, 4951-4961.