Elese Hanson
Associate
Duane Morris LLP
Suite 3700
190 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60603-3433
USA

Phone: +1 312 499 0114
Fax: +1 312 873 3762
Email: ehanson@duanemorris.com

Elese Hanson practices in the area of intellectual property law with an emphasis on patent related issues, including litigation, prosecution, licensing, due diligence and counseling for clients in the pharmaceutical, food science, biotechnology, chemical and healthcare industries with specific emphasis on the generic drug industry (ANDA).

In addition, Ms. Hanson has worked on opinions of counsel regarding patentability, invalidity, freedom-to-operate and priority of invention of U.S. patents and publications.

Ms. Hanson is admitted to practice in Illinois and registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. She is a 2008 graduate of DePaul University College of Law (J.D. and Registered Patent Attorney), where she was editor of case notes and comments for the Journal of Art, Intellectual Property and Technology Law and a staff writer/contributor to the Health Law Institute Newsletter, and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin (B.S., Biomedical Engineering).

Areas of Practice

• Intellectual Property
• Trademark and Copyright Law

Representative Matters

• Aventis Pharma S.A. and Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC v. Apotex Inc. and Apotex Corp., Case No. 08-496 (GMS) (D. Del. 2010). Patent infringement action regarding Apotex's ANDA to make a generic version of Sanofi-Aventis' anti-cancer product TAXOTERE®, the active ingredient of which is docetaxel. Following a two-week trial, obtained an order for Apotex striking down the patents-in-issue as invalid and unenforceable due to Sanofi-Adventis' inequitable conduct in procuring the patents.
• Allergan v. Sandoz Inc., Case No. 09-097 (ED. Tex). Patent infringement action regarding Sandoz's ANDA to make a generic version of Allergan's eye pressure drops COMBIGAN®, the active ingredient of which is brimonidine tartrate/timolol maleat.
• Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. v. Sandoz, Inc., et al., Case No. 09-033 (JJF) (D Del.). Patent infringement action regarding Sandoz's ANDA to make a generic version of Medicis's acne product Solodyn®, the active ingredient of which is minocycline hydrochloride.
• Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. et al. v. Sandoz, Inc., Case Nos. 08-534 and 08-970 (KSH) (D Del.). Patent infringement action regarding Sandoz's ANDA to make a generic version of Endo's pain product Opana® ER, the active ingredient of which is oxymorphone hydrochloride.
• Wyeth v. Apotex Inc., and Apotex Corp., Case No. 08-022308 (S.D. FL). Patent infringement action regarding Apotex's ANDA to make a generic version of Wyeth's anti-depressant product EFFEXOR® XR, the active ingredient of which is venlafaxine hydrochloride.
• Alcon Research, Ltd. et al. v. Sandoz Inc., Case No. 09-0103 (RLY-JMS) (S.D. Ind). Patent infringement action regarding Sandoz's ANDA to make a generic version of Alcon's eye allergy product Patanol®, the active ingredient of which is olopatadine hydrochloride.
• Merck & Co., Inc. v. Sandoz Inc., Case No. 09-890 (MLC-JJH) (D. N.J.). Patent infringement action regarding Sandoz's ANDA to make a generic version of Merck's anti-nausea product EMEND®, the active ingredient of which is aprepitant.

Professional Activities

• Chicago Bar Association

Admissions

• Illinois
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Education

• DePaul University College of Law, J.D., 2008
• University of Wisconsin, B.S., Biomedical Engineering, 2005

Experience

• Duane Morris LLP
  - Associate, 2008-present

Selected Publications

• Co-author, "A Response to Terry Mahn’s Is It Time for FDA to Revise Its Orange Book Rules to Deal with 'Skinny-Labled' Generic Drugs?" FDLI's Food and Drug Policy Forum, December 14, 2011
• Co-author, "FDA: Liquid OTC Drugs with Poorly Labeled Measuring Devices May Constitute Misbranding," Duane Morris Alert, May 10, 2011
• Co-author, "Labeling Changes for Prescription Drugs After New Safety Information: FDA's Draft Guidance," Duane Morris Alert, April 28, 2011
• Co-author, "Pennsylvania District Court Prevents Disclosure of Hundreds of Confidential Settlement Agreements," Duane Morris Alert, March 24, 2011
• Co-author, "FDA Issues Guidance on Dietary Supplement cGMP Regulations," Duane Morris Alert, January 27, 2011
• "FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Citizen's Petitions," Duane Morris Alert, January 29, 2009