Christopher A. Pinahs

Chris Pinahs is a full-service life sciences attorney who helps clients protect value, mitigate risk, and gain competitive advantage through smart IP strategy. With dual training in law and biology, and admission to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Chris delivers integrated counsel that aligns tightly with business priorities across litigation, strategic counseling, and transactional diligence.

He represents pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device clients at every stage of the product lifecycle—from first-in-class R&D through post-launch market defense. Whether clearing the way for a new launch, defending a high-value therapy in court, or evaluating IP in a multimillion-dollar deal, Chris stays laser-focused on the client’s definition of success. He is trusted by general counsel, business executives, and in-house teams alike to cut through complexity, offer practical judgment, and deliver results under pressure.

Turning IP Disputes Into Business Victories

Chris has extensive experience litigating high-stakes pharmaceutical and medical device patent disputes, with a focus on achieving tangible commercial results. He has served as lead trial counsel in Hatch-Waxman and medical device litigation and has successfully handled inter partes reviews (IPRs) and post-grant reviews (PGRs) before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). His victories have cleared the path to market for major branded and generic therapies.

In district court, he has helped clients defeat infringement claims, enforce portfolio rights, and resolve duplicative or strategic litigation. His experience spans therapies in pain management, oncology, neurology, and rare diseases. He is also well-versed in trademark litigation and has successfully defended against motions for preliminary injunction, giving clients comprehensive brand protection as well.

Chris is admitted to practice before the Federal Circuit, several federal district courts, and the USPTO, enabling him to manage complex IP disputes from administrative proceeding through appeal.

Strategy That Moves the Needle

Beyond litigation, Chris partners closely with in-house teams to build and execute IP strategies that support business objectives and reduce litigation risk. He regularly conducts freedom-to-operate analyses, guides pre-marketing evaluations, and develops patent strategies that enhance product positioning and maximize exclusivity.

Chris’s counsel is especially valuable for companies operating in complex or heavily patented therapeutic areas—such as pain, oncology, or neurology—or planning first-in-class product launches. He provides clear, actionable guidance on Orange Book listings, regulatory exclusivities, and patent landscape analysis, helping companies minimize IP friction and sidestep avoidable disputes. Whether entering a competitive market or protecting an emerging asset, Chris offers pragmatic insight grounded in technical fluency and commercial awareness.

Assessing Risk, Enabling Deals

Chris is a go-to advisor for life sciences M&A, licensing, and strategic transactions. He has supported diligence efforts on deals ranging from $375 million to nearly $900 million, involving both marketed products and clinical-stage assets. His work includes IP diligence for pharmaceuticals, biologics, and interchangeable biosimilars, including biosimilar product pathways governed by the BPCIA.

Chris evaluates patent portfolio strength, regulatory exclusivity, litigation risk, and competitive landscape with precision, providing clients with concise, business-focused analysis to support rapid, high-stakes decision-making. He has advised on transactions that resulted in the successful acquisition of drug franchises, finalization of complex biosimilar licensing deals, and de-risking of IP positions in highly competitive markets.

Recognized Leader and Trusted Advisor

Chris is widely recognized for his work in life sciences IP. He was named a “Patent Star” by Managing IP and lead counsel for a matter awarded “Patent Impact Case of the Year” by LMG Life Sciences. He has also been honored in Benchmark Litigation’s 40 & Under list and Best Lawyers in America for his litigation success.

Education

• University of Minnesota School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude; Minnesota Law Review, Managing Editor, Staff Member
• University of Minnesota, M.S. in Plant Biological Studies, magna cum laude
• Gustavus Adolphus College, B.A in Biology and Environmental Studies, cum laude

Representative Matters

Turning IP Disputes Into Business Victories

• Represented the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in an action in Federal District Court in Philadelphia against BioNTech for royalty payments related to a license for the use of mRNA patents, notably used in the development of the blockbuster COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty®, that arose from the Nobel-Prize-winning research of Drs. Drew Weismann and Kaitlin Kariko at Penn. Robins Kaplan filed a complaint asserting Penn’s claim for underpayment of royalties from global net sales of the vaccine in the Federal District Court in Philadelphia. Robins Kaplan negotiated the settlement agreement, pursuant to which the BioNTech shall, among other things, pay up to $467.0 million to Penn, consisting of $400.0 million as royalties for calendar years 2020-2023, up to $15.0 million in funding for a three-year extension of the research term of the Company’s and Penn’s vaccine alliance, and $52.0 million as a contribution to a research and development investment fund to be jointly managed by BioNTech and Penn. Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania v. BioNTech Civ. No., 2:24-cv-3801 (E.D. Penn.)
• Served as lead defense counsel for BioDelivery Sciences Int’l, Inc. (BDSI) in two patent litigations, after BDSI was acquired by Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. in March of 2022. Cases were pending in the Eastern District of North Carolina where BDSI’s products Bunavail® (buprenorphine and naloxone) buccal film and Belbuca® (buprenorphine) buccal film were accused of infringing Aquestive Therapeutic’s U.S. Patent No. 8,765,167. The parties had been litigating for nearly a decade in federal district courts and in multiple proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. After appearing as substitute counsel for BDSI, Robins Kaplan developed and asserted strategic patent infringement defenses and—in a little over eight months—reached a favorable settlement achieving complete freedom to market for BDSI. Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. v. BioDelivery Sciences Int’l, Inc., Civ. No. 19-505-D (E.D.N.C.); Indivior Inc. v. BioDelivery Sciences Int’l, Inc., Civ. No. 15-350-D (E.D.N.C.)
• Trial counsel to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania in a patent infringement action against Eli Lilly, BMS, and ImClone related to the manufacture and sale of Erbitux. Penn asserted US Patent No. 7,625,558 related to treatment of certain cancers using antibodies to erbB receptors followed by radiation therapy. The case was resolved on confidential terms. The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania v. Eli Lilly and Company, et al., No. 15-6133 (E.D. Pa.)
• Represented Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in a Post-Grant Review challenging Purdue’s U.S. Patent No. 9,693,961. Collegium prevailed in demonstrating that all claims of the patent were invalid for lack of written description support and anticipation. Collegium Pharm., Inc. v. Purdue Pharma L.P., PGR2018-00048 (Final Written Decision Nov. 19, 2021).
• Represented Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. in Hatch-Waxman patent litigation concerning a Section 505(b)(2) application for a pain treatment drug. Obtained summary judgment of non-infringement. Purdue Pharma L.P. v. Collegium Pharm., Inc., 335 F. Supp. 3d 149 (D. Mass. 2018).
• Represented Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. in Hatch-Waxman patent litigation concerning the filing of its Supplemental NDA for a pain treatment drug. Argued motion to dismiss and obtained full dismissal of lawsuit. Purdue Pharma L.P. v. Collegium Pharm., Inc., No. 17-cv-11923 (D. Mass. 2018).
• Represented Medtronic in seventeen IPRs challenging five patents directed to guide extension catheters. Medtronic, Inc. v. Teleflex Innovations S.À.R.L., IPR2020-00126, et seq. (filed Nov. 12, 2019).
• Represented Upsher-Smith Laboratories in Hatch-Waxman litigation concerning five Orange Book listed patents for the acne drug, Absorica. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. v. Upsher-Smith Laboratories, No. 19-cv-02546 (D.N.J. 2019).
• Represented Zenara Pharma Private Limited in Hatch-Waxman litigation concerning four Orange Book listed patents for a Gaucher disease drug, Cerdelga. Genzyme Corp. v. Zenara Pharma Private Limited, No. 18-cv-01795 (D. Del. 2018).
• Represented Collegium Pharmaceutical Inc. in brand-on-brand pharmaceutical litigation relating to the sale of Nucynta. Purdue Pharma L.P. v. Collegium NF, LLC., No. 18-cv-00226 (D. Del. 2018).
• Represented Teva Pharmaceuticals in Hatch-Waxman litigation involving seven Orange Book listed patents for the extended-release Alzheimer’s drug, Namenda XR. Part of a team that invalidated six patents, on indefiniteness grounds, prior to trial. Forest Labs., Inc. v. Teva Pharms. USA, Inc., C.A. No. 14-121, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 322 (D. Del. Jan. 5, 2016), aff’d 716 F. App’x 987 (Fed. Cir. 2017). Upon completion of a four-day bench trial on the remaining patent, the matter settled for value. (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP.)
• Represented Teva Pharmaceuticals in Hatch-Waxman litigation concerning its ANDA for a pain management drug. After an eight-day bench trial, the court found each asserted patent was either not infringed and/or invalid. Purdue Pharma L.P. v. Teva Pharms., USA, Inc. (In re OxyContin Antitrust Litig.), 994 F. Supp. 2d 367 (S.D.N.Y. 2014), aff’d sub nom. Purdue Pharma L.P. v. Epic Pharma, LLC, 811 F.3d 1345 (Fed. Cir. 2016). (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP.)
• Represented Breckenridge Pharmaceuticals in a Hatch-Waxman litigation relating to a cachexia drug, Megace ES. Par Pharmaceutical Inc. v. Breckenridge Pharmaceutical Inc., No. 13-cv-01114 (D. Del.) (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP.)
• Represented Rust-Oleum in a trademark matter in the District of Minnesota. Was part of a team that defeated a motion for preliminary injunction. Plasti-Dip Int’l Inc. v. Rust-Oleum Brands Co., Civil No. 14-1831, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 174560 (D. Minn. Dec. 16, 2014). (Prior to joining Robins Kaplan LLP.)
• Defended Club Car, LLC in IPRs brought by competitor Yamaha Golf Car Company. Obtained complete victory in each of the four IPRs. PTAB ruled that no patent claim was invalid as anticipated or obvious. Yamaha Golf Car Co. v. Club Car, LLC, IPR2017-02141, et seq. (Final Written Decision Apr. 2, 2019).

Strategy That Moves the Needle

• Represented Bioeq AG with respect to intellectual property matters and licensing for Biologics License Application Number 761165 for the proposed biosimilar ranibizumab product, including a license agreement among Bioeq, Coherus, and Genentech, Inc. Coherus owns the BLA for CIMERLI (ranibizumab-egrn) and commercial rights in the U.S. and its territories. Coherus licensed CIMERLI from Bioeq AG, a joint venture between Polpharma Biologics Group B.V. and Formycon AG. Coherus announced the commercial availability, beginning October 3, 2022, of CIMERLI™ (ranibizumab-eqrn), a biosimilar product interchangeable with Lucentis® (ranibizumab injection) for all approved indications. CIMERLI is an anti-VEGF therapy within a class of biologics that has been revolutionary in helping retinal patients maintain or gain vision.

Assessing Risk, Enabling Deals

• Represented Gurnet Point Capital in its acquisition of Radius Health, Inc. Performed patent, regulatory, and scientific diligence in support of transaction valued at $890 million. Radius markets Tymlos, a twice-daily injection indicated for post-menopausal women at risk for osteoporosis.
• Represented Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. in its acquisition of BioDelivery Sciences International Inc. (“BDSI”). Performed patent and regulatory diligence for transaction valued at over $600 million. The acquisition included BDSI’s Belbuca, Symproic, and Elyxyb drug products.
• Represented Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. in its purchase of the Nucynta franchise from Assertio Therapeutics, Inc. Performed patent and regulatory diligence for transaction valued at $375 million.

• Named a “Patent Star,” Managing Intellectual Property (2025)
• Named a "Minnesota Future Star," Benchmark Litigation (2025)
• Listed in Benchmark Litigation's 40 & Under Guide (2024)
• Named a "Top Author" by JD Supra (2023)
• Recipient of "Patent Impact Case of the Year" award, LMG Life Sciences (2022)
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2023-2026 editions)
• Shortlised for "America's Rising Stars," Euromoney (2019)
• Named a "Minnesota Rising Star," Super Lawyers (2017-2019, 2021)

Civic

• Named a "Top Author" by JD Supra (2023)
• Member of the Grants Committee for the Minnesota Federal Bar Association (2016-2018)
• Chair of the Intellectual Property Practice Group for the Minnesota Federal Bar Association (2015-2016)

Professional

• Federal Bar Association
• Minnesota State Bar Association

Media Mentions

• "PTAB Axes Patent After Purdue Ch. 11 Delay," Law360 (November 22, 2021)
• “Purdue’s ‘Duplicative’ Suit Over OxyContin Generic Gets Ax,” Law360 (January 16, 2018)
• “Purdue Loses Bid to Fuse Jumble of OxyContin Patent Suits,” Law360 (December 13, 2017)
• “Xtampza Not Infringing 2 OxyContin Patents, Judge Says,” Law360 (October 1, 2018)
• “Justices Won't Hear Drugmakers' OxyContin Patent Appeal,” Law360 (November 14, 2016)
• “Fed. Circ. Won't Rehear Ruling That Axed 4 OxyContin Patents,” Law360 (May 4, 2016)
• “Fed. Circ. Affirms Ruling Axing 4 Purdue OxyContin Patents,” Law360 (February 1, 2016)