Katherine A. Helm Receives US Rising Star Award for Intellectual Property

Dechert partner Katherine A. (“Kassie”) Helm, Ph.D. has been named the U.S. Rising Star in Intellectual Property at the LMG Life Sciences Awards for 2019. The annual contest, now in its seventh year, honors the individuals who have driven the most innovative and challenging work in life sciences over the past year.

Dr. Helm’s background in neuroscience has given her a unique perspective in advising and advocating for her innovative pharmaceutical, biotechnology and healthcare clients. She has obtained a number of significant IP litigation victories in the past year, including a complete and final dismissal won on behalf of Japanese pharmaceutical innovator Daiichi Sankyo in a long-running pay-for-delay multidistrict litigation over the cholesterol drug Lipitor® (atorvastatin calcium), involving two Third Circuit appeals. For SpePharm AG, she secured an expedited win just three months after bringing suit against Eisai, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, upholding its global licensed rights to chemotherapy drug Salagen® (pilocarpine hydrochloride). She also represents Eli Lilly and Company in defending its Taltz® (ixekizumab) and Emgality® (galcanezumab-gnlm) antibody products in patent litigation and concurrent Patent Office proceedings.

Two other Dechert lawyers were also shortlisted in the LMG contest. Andrea L.C. Reid, co-lead of Dechert’s global life sciences practice, was named a finalist in the “Patent Strategy & Management Attorney of the Year – Massachusetts” category, while Martin J. Black, head of the firm’s IP litigation team, was named a finalist in the “Hatch-Waxman Litigator of the Year – Branded” category.

All those recognized in the LMG Life Sciences Awards were honored at a ceremony at Essex House, New York City, on September 18.

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