Dr. Joseph P. Taormino
B.A. Chemistry, molecular biologist, European Patent Attorney
Specialisation
Opposition and appeal proceedings before the European Patent Office; legal opinions and litigation in the fields of biotechnology, food chemistry and pharmaceuticals. Particular experience with patents/applications relating to genes, proteins, transformed eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, transgenic animals and plants and in vitro screening and diagnostic methods. Involved in opposition/appeal proceedings on erythropoietin (T412/93), antisense RNA (T994/95), reach-through claims (T609/02) among others; cross-border litigation on alpha-interferon and involvement in several due diligence evaluations on the IP assets of established biotech firms and start-ups.
Publications
Numerous lectures within Germany and abroad on biotech subjects.
Professional Memberships
EPI and the Biotechnology Commission of the UEPIP.
Career
Studied chemistry at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY/USA, B.A. in 1985; Ph.D. in 1992 from The Johns Hopkins University in the area of biochemistry, cell and molecular biology and genetics. Dissertation on the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in animal cells. Lecture at JHU on human genetics 1992; Alexander v. Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Cologne in the field of transgenic animal models in 1994. With Hoffmann · Eitle since 1994; European Patent Attorney since 1998. Co-leader of Biotech Group since 2002.
Personal Information
Leisure interests include playing percussion instruments and golf.
Languages
English, German.
