Structuring Collaborative Agreements in Life Sciences

Collaboration agreements can invigorate a life sciences companies’ success. When facing the expiration of key patents, companies can develop new R&D opportunities and resources for final-stage development, clinical trials, manufacturing and distribution of new products through strategic partnerships with others.

While collaborative agreements provide businesses with an avenue to access resources, create new products and bring them to market, reduce expenses, and allocate risk, they must be carefully structured to protect a company’s assets.

Counsel involved in developing collaboration agreements for businesses must understand the critical challenges involved in allocating risks, protecting IP rights and handling termination of agreements.

Listen as our authoritative panel examines the key considerations when structuring collaborative agreements, including terms addressing allocation of risk, establishment of party roles, milestones and obligations, protection of IP rights, and termination of agreements, among others. The panel will outline approaches and best practices for structuring the collaboration agreements for life science companies.

1. Key considerations
2. Contract terms
   1. Risk allocation
   2. Roles of parties
   3. Establishing milestones
   4. Party obligations
   5. Development and marketing
   6. IP rights
   7. Termination
3. Best practices

The panel will review these and other key issues:

• What considerations and potential pitfalls should counsel keep in mind when crafting collaborative agreements?
• What are the key contract terms that should be included in life sciences collaborative agreements?
• What approaches are most effective for assigning ownership and development rights?