October 7, 2025 | 10:00AM EST
In this webinar, you will learn:
- About paratope-centered patenting as a way to build stronger, structurally defined claims that withstand enablement and design-around challenges.
- How evolving case law, USPTO guidance, and antibody characterization tools can open new avenues for securing robust protection for therapeutic antibodies.
- Experimental strategies for resolving epitope and paratope including efficiently permutating and screening amino acid substitutions
Paratope-Based mAb Patent Protection
While the most straightforward method of patenting monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is to claim their exact amino acid sequences, these claims are highly vulnerable; minor sequence modifications can preserve antigen recognition and function while circumventing IP. Broad claims covering any antibody that binds the antigen or epitope are no longer permissible in the USA, creating a need for new strategies for robust patent protection.
As an alternative, Dr. Ulrich Storz, patent attorney with expertise in therapeutic mAbs, suggests a paratope-centered strategy for robust protection. By defining mAbs through shared paratope residues and permissible CDR substitutions that maintain binding, inventors can construct structurally anchored claims, meet enablement and written description requirements, and reduce opportunities for design-arounds.
This webinar will highlight how case law, USPTO guidance, and advances in antibody characterization technologies provide a stronger, more resilient framework for protecting next-generation antibody therapeutics.
Speaker Bios
Ulrich Storz, PhD
Patent Attorney, Michalski · Hüttermann & Partner Patentanwälte
Dr. Ulrich Storz earned his doctorate in neurobiology from the University of Münster in 2002 and trained as a German Patent Attorney, gaining admission to represent clients before the European Patent Office in 2006. He specializes in patent prosecution, enforcement, and freedom-to-operate analyses, with a focus on life sciences, including therapeutic antibodies, biotechnology, and microbiology. He is regularly involved in major antibody opposition proceedings before the European Patent Office.
Monique Seymour, MSc
Senior Sales Executive and Development Manager; Rapid Novor
With a masters in biotechnology and management from the University of Glasgow, Monique has a keen interest in empowering scientists to further their research for better human health. At Rapid Novor, Monique has worked collaboratively with hundreds of scientists in both therapeutic and diagnostic fields globally to understand their goals and apply her proteomics knowledge in tandem with Rapid Novor’s REmAb® service to speed up discovery. When not at a desk or a lab, you can find her globetrotting across Europe and Asia.