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Christopher A. Pinahs

Christopher A. Pinahs
Partner

Experience
Chris Pinahs practices intellectual property law, with an emphasis on pharmaceutical and medical device patent litigation. Applying his background in the biological sciences, Chris also has extensive experience advising life sciences clients in freedom-to-operate analyses, pre-acquisition diligence, and pre-marketing evaluations. In all arenas, Chris uses his technical background to help clients develop and implement an appropriate strategy to achieve their business goals.
Chris 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 a transitional patent—with an alleged pre-AIA effective filing date that would not qualify for review—was nevertheless eligible for PGR and that all claims were invalid for lack of written description support and anticipation. To Collegium’s knowledge, this is the first decision issued outside of the eighteen-month window for the PTAB to issue a final written decision. The Board acknowledged the “unusual circumstances” presented by the PGR, but rejected Purdue’s request to terminate the proceeding and issued a decision invalidating the challenged claims of the ʼ961 patent.
Chris also continues to represent Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. in ongoing district-court litigation against Purdue Pharma L.P. in conjunction with Collegium’s pain management drug Xtampza ER®. To date, Collegium has successfully invalidated or been found not to infringe six of Purdue’s patents. In conjunction with this matter, Chris argued a motion to dismiss Hatch-Waxman patent litigation concerning the filing of a Supplemental NDA and obtained full dismissal of the lawsuit on grounds of impermissible claim splitting.
Chris has significant trial experience, including the representation of a generic manufacturer in its challenge of several patents directed to Purdue’s multibillion-dollar OxyContin® product. Chris was also part of the team that upheld this verdict on appeal at the Federal Circuit. Chris was also a member of a trial team that prevailed on several patents directed to the Alzheimer’s drug, Namenda XR®. Chris also handles trademark matters, successfully defeating a motion for preliminary injunction in the District of Minnesota.
Chris is also active in the legal community, including pro bono representation through the Pro Se Project. He previously served as the chair of the Intellectual Property Practice Group for the Minnesota Federal Bar Association (2015-2016), and served as a member of the Grants Committee for the Minnesota Federal Bar Association.
Prior to working as an IP attorney, Chris was a law clerk to the Honorable David S. Doty in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. During law school, Chris was a legal writing instructor, a Managing Editor for the Minnesota Law Review, and studied to obtain his master’s degree in Plant Biological Sciences.
Trial Counsel to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania in a patent infringement action against Eli Lilly 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 action was THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA v. ELI LILLY AND COMPANY, IMCLONE LLC and BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB COMPANY, No. 15-6133 in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The case was resolved on confidential terms.
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).
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).
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).
Lead counsel in action that obtained habeas corpus relief for detained individual. Abdulkadir v. Sessions, No. 18-cv-2353 (NEB/HB), 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 219431 (D. Minn. Nov. 13, 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 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.)
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.)

- Shortlised for "America's Rising Stars," Euromoney (2019)
- Named a "Minnesota Rising Star," Super Lawyers (2017-2019, 2021)
- 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)
- Minnesota
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- 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
- Federal Bar Association
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- "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)
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