Kelly A. Plummer, Ph.D.

Kelly represents clients in patent prosecution matters before the US Patent and Trademark Office and internationally under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, as well as in managing their worldwide patent portfolios. Her practice encompasses a broad range of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical subject matter, including antibody therapeutics, drug delivery, formulations, manufacturing and purification of biologics, small molecule pharmaceuticals, and therapeutic methods. Kelly leverages her experience as a researcher in protein therapeutics at an international biotechnology company to provide a deep technical understanding to her client’s biologics and biotechnology-related patent portfolios.

Kelly received her Ph.D. from Harvard University in the department of chemistry and chemical biology. Her doctoral work focused on developing systems for modulating the affinity and specificity of small molecules for therapeutic RNA targets.

Before joining Morgan Lewis, Kelly was an associate at another international law firm and a Chicago-based intellectual property boutique. Before that, she worked as a scientific researcher at a large biotechnology company.

• An international pharmaceutical company in prosecuting a patent portfolio involving antibodies to neutrophil and monocyte cell-surface molecules
• A multinational pharmaceutical company in patent matters for integrin receptor antagonists including antibody formulations and methods of treatment using these antibodies
• A biosimilar applicant in pre-suit exchange of information under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA)
• Provided freedom-to-operate analyses for anti-TNFα antibody products and related formulations, methods of treatment, and manufacturing and purification methods
• A biosimilar manufacturer regarding strategic enforcement of its patent portfolio
• An international biotechnology company in preparing expert declarations supporting petitions for inter partes review
• Conducted due diligence related to acquisition of a branded small molecule antibiotic
• A major healthcare company in drafting and prosecuting patent applications related to surgical sealants, adhesion prevention, and tissue repair
• A privately-held diagnostics company in managing its international patent portfolio