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Professional portrait of Eric J. Zylstra, Ph.D.

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Eric brings a wealth of experience to Michael Best in patent prosecution, client counseling, and due diligence for transactions, particularly in the life sciences sector. He has successfully prosecuted and evaluated U.S., international, and foreign patents in various technological areas, including pharmaceutical compounds and formulations for a variety of indications, polymers, biotechnology, dyes, and battery technology.

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Before joining Michael Best, Eric practiced at a large global law firm, where he drafted and prosecuted U.S., foreign, and international applications for a range of chemical and biological inventions. He also counseled start-up companies on patent strategy and pioneered an internal pro bono practice. Previously, Eric worked at a full-service law firm for nearly 15 years progressing from technical advisor to associate.

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Earlier in his career, Eric gained valuable industry and research experience through roles as a Senior Scientist at ChemRx, a division of Discovery Partners International, and as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Chemistry at the University of Tokyo. Eric earned a double S.B. in Chemistry and Literature from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Synthetic Chemistry from the University of California-Berkeley before pursuing his J.D. at the University of San Francisco School of Law.

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Eric has represented clients in the following matters:

Co-devised the patent portfolio strategy for a startup company focusing on small-molecule drugs and antibacterial compounds, successfully securing the allowance of its first patent (U.S. Pat. No. 8,853,278) in about six months.

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Co-developed a new theory of patentability for a client’s method-of-use patent for treatment of IBS-D (U.S. Pat. No. 6,284,770) covering an already-marketed drug, extending the drug’s patent protection and allowing re-listing of the reexamined patent in the Orange Book.

Drafted and prosecuted U.S., foreign, and international applications for a range of chemical and biological inventions, including pharmaceutical compounds and formulations, other compounds and formulations (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,481,752), and polymers.

Eric J. Zylstra, Ph.D.

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Eric Zylstra Joins Michael Best as Senior Counsel in the Firm’s Nationally Recognized Intellectual Property Practice Group

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Eric Zylstra Joins Michael Best as Senior Counsel in the Firm’s Nationally Recognized Intellectual Property Practice Group

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