Kevin A. O’Connor, Ph.D.

PartnerIntellectual Property

D (312) 269-5358

F (312) 980-0868

Kevin is a partner in the Intellectual Property practice, representing life sciences clients across every facet of patent law. Clients rely on Kevin to navigate the complexities of intellectual property with confidence and clarity. His practice consists of conducting technical IP due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, as well collaboration and license agreements; comprehensive patent counseling, including global prosecution and strategic portfolio management; and product clearance and opinion preparation.

Holding a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Colorado, Kevin conducted research on the relationship between the central nervous system and the immune system. Following his doctoral studies, he advanced his expertise in the Molecular and Cellular Pathobiology Program at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, focusing on pediatric inflammatory diseases. This biological foundation combined with legal acumen enables Kevin to quickly master the intricacies of biotech and pharmaceutical intellectual property matters and craft strategies that protect client innovations.

Clients trust Kevin for his business insight and clear communication, essential skills for delivering practical, strategic guidance. He represents major pharmaceutical companies and emerging enterprises in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries. His work covers a broad spectrum of technologies, including:

  • Therapeutics: cellular therapies, gene therapies, vaccines, biologics (large molecules), and small molecules
  • Diagnostics: assays and laboratory reagents
  • Gene editing and advanced molecular technologies
  • Medical devices and related innovations

Kevin has overseen IP diligence for several billion-dollar acquisitions and multi-million-dollar collaborations, conducting diligence to address complex patent, trade secret, antitrust, and corporate issues.

Kevin’s role on the firm’s Partner Review Committee reflects his commitment to fostering leadership, mentoring emerging partners, and strengthening the firm’s strategic vision. Beyond his professional work, he serves on the Board of Trustees for Mother McAuley High School and has held leadership roles with the Illinois Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Experience

Representative Transactional Experience

  • Conducting due diligence on intellectual property issues for:
    • a $1B+ acquisition of a company developing small molecule therapeutics for inflammatory-mediated diseases
    • an acquisition of a clinical-stage company developing gene therapy treatment for ocular disease
    • a global, strategic collaboration to develop and commercialize RNAi therapeutics
    • an acquisition of a private biotechnology company developing small molecule precision oncology therapies
    • an acquisition of a privately held biotechnology company developing antibody therapeutics for inflammatory disease
    • a multi-billion-dollar acquisition of a company developing small molecules for psychiatric and neurological disorders
    • a global, strategic collaboration to develop and commercialize small molecule inhibitors of downstream mediators of kinase proteins for oncology indications
    • a license and collaboration agreement to advance development of multivalent antibodies as immunotherapies for autoimmune and oncology indications
    • an acquisition of a company developing small molecules to modulate pathways that play a role in generating an immune response against tumors
    • a research and development agreement for small molecule integrin inhibitors to treat fibrotic diseases that included an upfront payment of $100 million
    • a global strategic collaboration to develop and commercialize therapeutic antibodies to treat neurodegenerative diseases including that included an upfront payment in excess of $200 million
    • a venture investment in a company focused on developing therapeutic antibodies targeting glyco-immune checkpoints for oncology indications
    • a collaboration for the development of orally bioavailable, selective inhibitors of immunoproteasome subunits for immunology indication
    • a license agreement for the global development and commercialization of a small molecule kinase inhibitor that included an upfront payment of $40 million
    • a strategic collaboration to develop therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s disease
    • a $450 million acquisition of a company developing therapeutic antibodies for indications in immunology and oncology
    • the acquisition of the global rights to a humanized antibody to treat chronic pain in an agreement that included upfront and milestone payments in excess of $150 million
  • Providing strategic analysis of IP landscapes related to anti-viral therapies, including direct-acting antiviral medicines for hepatitis C
  • Freedom-to-operate analysis for various commercial products, including small molecule compounds, large molecules, and cellular therapeutics
  • Drafting and prosecuting patent applications covering cellular therapies such as stem cells and CAR T-cells; large molecule therapeutics such as antibodies and peptides; small molecule therapeutics such as direct-acting antiviral agents and steroid derivatives; and nucleic acids such as silencing RNAs; nutraceuticals; gene editing, including CRISPR-related applications; molecular biology for next generation sequencing; and viral vector-mediated gene therapy.

Representative Life Science Patents & Applications

  • U.S. Patent No. 12,433,911 – “Preparation and storage of liposomal RNA formulations suitable for therapy”
  • U.S. Patent No. 12,398,214 – “Binding agents binding to EPCAM and CD137”
  • U.S. Patent No. 12,391,723 – “Steroids and methods of manufacture”
  • U.S. Patent No. 12,378,305 – “Compositions and methods for preventing or ameliorating neonatal HSV infection”
  • U.S. Patent No. 12,325,759 – “Anti-VEGF-anti-PD-L1 bispecific antibody, pharmaceutical composition of same, and uses thereof”
  • U.S. Patent No. 12,220,434 – “Altering the intestinal microbiome in cystic fibrosis”
  • U.S. Patent No. 12,188,097 – “Methods and compositions for prediction of therapeutic efficacy of cancer treatments and cancer prognosis”
  • U.S. Patent No. 12,083,227 – “Solid Pharmaceutical Formulations for Treating Endometriosis, Uterine Fibroids, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or Adenomyosis”
  • U.S. Patent No. 11,932,693 – “Monoclonal antibodies directed against programmed death-1 protein and their use in medicine”
  • U.S. Patent No. 11,707,464 – “Methods of treating heavy menstrual bleeding”
  • U.S. Patent No. 11,623,114 – “Remote-sensing, Bluetooth-enabled resistance exercise band”
  • U.S. Patent No. 11,542,239 – “Elagolix sodium compositions and processes”
  • U.S. Patent No. 11,512,107 – “Methods for assembly of tetracyclic compounds by stereoselective C9-C10 bond formation”
  • U.S. Patent No. 11,278,603 – “Enzyme compositions with reduced viral and microbial contamination”
  • U.S. Patent No. 10,738,108 – “Monoclonal antibodies against claudin-18 for treatment of cancer”
  • U.S. Patent No. 10,537,572 – “Methods of administering elagolix”
  • U.S. Patent No. 10,526,387 – “Tumor vaccination involving a humoral immune response against self-proteins”
  • U.S. Patent No. 10,501,420 – “Pyridyl analogs of 1-(2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)dien-28-oyl) imidazole”
  • U.S. Patent No. 10,413,444 – “Treatment of ischemia-reperfusion injury by controlling patient temperature”
  • U.S. Patent No. 10,398,590 – “Temperature management systems”
  • U.S. Patent No. 10,314,890 – “Combination therapy involving antibodies against claudin 18.2 for treatment of pancreatic cancer”
  • U.S. Patent No. 10,201,584 – “Compositions and methods for treating HCV”
  • U.S. Patent No. 10,072,040 – “Tylosin A analogs and derivatives”
  • U.S. Patent No. 10,053,512 – “Antibodies against claudin 18.2 useful in cancer diagnosis”
  • U.S. Patent No. 9,932,401 – “Antibodies specific for claudin 6 (CLDN6)”
  • U.S. Patent No. 9,598,721 – “Universally applicable lysis buffer and processing methods for the lysis of bodily samples”
  • U.S. Patent No. 9,453,007 – “Hepatitis C inhibitors and uses thereof ”
  • U.S. Patent No. 9,248,193 – “Formulations of Phenyl Uracil Compounds”
  • U.S. Patent No. 9,200,021 – “Phosphine ligands for catalytic reactions”

Related Services

Recognitions

Badge for
  • The Best Lawyers in America, recommended in “Patent Law” since 2025

Kevin's News & Insights

Firm News

August 21, 2025

Event

February 17, 2025

In The Media

August 30, 2024

Firm News

August 15, 2024

Event

June 9, 2023

In The Media

May 22, 2023

In The Media

May 10, 2023

Firm News

03.22.23

Publication

November 16, 2022

In The Media

October 14, 2022

View More

Footer

Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP
225 W. Randolph St., Suite 2800
Chicago, IL 60606-1976
(312) 269-8000

Media item displaying Kevin A. O’Connor, Ph.D.
Chambers Top Ranked 2025
Media item displaying Kevin A. O’Connor, Ph.D.
Media item displaying Kevin A. O’Connor, Ph.D.
Media item displaying Kevin A. O’Connor, Ph.D.
Media item displaying Kevin A. O’Connor, Ph.D.