Robert Smyth, Ph.D., advises on biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and chemical patent prosecution in the United States and around the world. He advises on post-grant and opposition proceedings in the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America. He also focuses on patent infringement, validity, and freedom to operate analyses. Bob offers litigation support and analysis, drafts licensing agreements, and conducts intellectual property due diligence analysis for mergers and acquisitions. With a background in pharmacology, immunology, virology, and molecular biology, Bob advises companies on the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical, biological, and diagnostic products.
Bob has prepared and prosecuted thousands of patent applications in the life sciences sector, including complex matters under appeal before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) at the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). He advises on post-grant proceedings in the USPTO including inter partes review, reexamination and reissue applications for pharmaceutical, biological, and diagnostic products. He provides strategic counseling on the creation and development of patent portfolios for branded pharmaceuticals to address issues arising during ANDA litigations. Bob also has expertise in analyzing and preparing Orange Book listings and patent term extensions for branded pharmaceuticals. He also counsels clients in patent matters relating to biosimilars as governed by the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act.
In addition, Bob advises on patent due diligence matters in mergers, acquisitions, venture capital financing, and public offerings involving pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies. He regularly advises on intellectual property licenses and patent purchase agreements in the life sciences sector.
Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Bob was a patent agent at a pharmaceutical company where he was responsible for managing the prosecution of patent applications for pharmaceutical and biological products. Bob received his B.S. in biology with a concentration in immunology from Syracuse University. He later received his Ph.D. in pharmacology from Temple University School of Medicine. His doctoral research focused on the use of monoclonal antibodies to drug receptor subtypes to assess their role in cancer cell proliferation. His doctoral research was published in the Journal of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics. He completed his post-doctoral fellowship in virology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. His post-doctoral research focused on HIV cofactor utilization using HIV subtype chimeras and monoclonal antibodies specific to HIV cofactors. His post-doctoral research was the subject of multiple publications in the scientific journals Nature and Cell.
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Washington, DC (2024, 2025)
Recommended, Intellectual property: Patents: prosecution (including re-examination and post-grant proceedings), The Legal 500 US (2020, 2021)
Recognized, IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals (2017–2024)
Member, Practice Group of the Year, Intellectual Property, Law360 (2019)
Member, Litigation Department of the Year–Intellectual Property, The American Lawyer (2019)
Member, American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section
Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association, Biotechnology Committee
Member, Intellectual Property Owners Association, International Patent Practice Committee