Xiaofan “Frank” Yang, PhD
Partner
Admissions
California;
US Patent & Trademark Office
Languages
Mandarin
Address
12544 High Bluff Drive, Suite 400, San Diego, CA 92130
Office Tel.
858.480.8206
Fax
619.744.5460
Overview
Dr. Yang provides comprehensive IP strategic counseling to public and private biotechnology, pharmaceutical, digital health and medical device companies. His patent counseling and prosecution experience creates and protects IP assets as primary value propositions for growth enterprises in all stages of business, from proof of concept to clinical development, regulatory approval and product launch. Dr. Yang is also experienced in conducting due diligence in complex venture financings, public offerings, partnering/licensing transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. Dr. Yang has a global client base, including companies and investors in U.S., Europe, and Asia. After obtaining his B.S. in polymer chemistry and Ph.D. in organic synthesis, Dr. Yang worked as a medicinal chemist in the pharmaceutical industry for more than four years before becoming a patent practitioner in 2006. He is a member of the firm’s Management Committee and co-leader of Procopio’s Life Sciences practice and its Technology Transactions and Licensing practice.
Novel Therapeutics (Large Molecules and Small Molecules)
- US university spinoff ophthalmic company in connection with strategic counseling, patent prosecution, and due diligence to support its product pipeline based on CRISPR gene editing and cell therapy
- US-based oncology company in connection with strategic counseling and patent prosecution to support its novel antibody platform technology and product pipeline
- China-based regenerative medicine company in connection with strategic counseling and patent prosecution to support its cell therapy and organ transplantation programs
- China-based ophthalmic company in connection with strategic counseling, patent prosecution, and due diligence to support its novel small molecule product pipeline
Delivery/Formulation
- NASDAQ-listed otic drug delivery company in connection with strategic counseling, patent prosecution, and due diligence to support its polymer-based otic drug delivery platform and product pipeline based on large molecule (protein and gene therapy) and small molecule
- US-based oncology drug delivery company in connection with strategic counseling, patent prosecution, and due diligence to support its nanoparticle-based drug delivery platform and product pipeline based on small molecules and peptides
- UK-based skincare and dermatology company in connection with strategic counseling and patent prosecution to support its combination products in various formulation forms
- US-based dermatology company in connection with strategic counseling, patent prosecution, and due diligence to support its products pipeline delivered through ionic liquid-based formulations
Digital Health
- US university spinoff diagnostic company in connection with strategic counseling, patent prosecution, and due diligence to support its AI-assisted cancer diagnosis platform and products based on liquid biopsy (products in commercialization)
- China-based diagnostic company in connection with strategic counseling and patent prosecution to support its AI-assisted diagnosis platform and products based on medical imaging (retinal scan, X-ray, etc.) and medical records
- US-based point-of-care (POC) diagnostic company in connection with strategic counseling and patent prosecution to support its smartphone/tablet enabled diagnosis platform and products covering a wide variety of clinical assays and tests
Medical Device
- Patent prosecution and portfolio development for ConvaTec (various devices on the market)
- Strategic counseling and patent prosecution work for Micell Technologies, up to commercialization of MiStent (drug-eluting, polymer-coated coronary stent)
- Patent prosecution and portfolio development for Boston Scientific/Scimed
PTAB Proceedings
- Strategic counseling and litigation support in connect with PGR No. 2015-00011, including appeal at the Federal Circuit
- Strategic counseling and litigation support in connect with Interference No. 106,030, including appeal at the Federal Circuit
Transactional IP Due Diligence
- Cambrian-Novartis license leading to launch of Tornado Therapeutics (2022)
- Taiwania Capital’s investment in Swiss digital health company Nanolive (2021)
- Taiwania Capital’s investment in U.S. medical device company Windgap (2021)
- Taiwania Capital’s investment in Taiwanese digital health company AIxMed (2021)
- Otonomy’s $100M IPO and follow-up offerings (2014, 2016, 2020, 2021)
- Denali Therapeutics’ $250M IPO and follow-up offering (2017, 2019)
- Denali’s licensing and collaboration transactions with Takeda and Sanofi (2018)
- Reverse merger of Evofem Biosciences and Neothetics (2017)
“Super-effective patent strategist and wise counsellor Frank Yang protects his clients’ intellectual assets to the hilt and seeks opportunities to put them to business use. Yang has recently been assisting life sciences company Otonomy to obtain crucial patents covering its lead product candidates and clinical programmes in the United States and abroad.” — IAM, describing Frank as an IAM Patent 1000 leader
- Patent 1000, IAM, 2023-2024
- IP Leader, WIPR, 2024
- Leader of Influence in Life Sciences, San Diego Business Journal, 2023-2024
- Co-awardee, Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, 2001
- JD, Chicago-Kent College of Law, 2011
- PhD, Organic Chemistry, Tulane University, 2004
- BS, Polymer Chemistry, Nanjing University, China, 1997
- Co-author. “3 Keys to Successful Corporate Collaborations,” July 30, 2024.
- Co-author. “Pharma-Related Patent Enablement Reaches the Highest Court,” November 10, 2022.
- Panelist. “The 50th SABPA Entrepreneur Club Event,” Sino-American Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Professional Association Event, February 27, 2020.
- Co-author. “2,4-Diaryltetrahydropyran Formation by the Prins Cyclization and Its Application towards the Synthesis of Epicalyxin F and Calyxin I,” 12 SYNLETT 1912-1916, 2005
- Co-author. “Ruthenium catalyzed tandem olefin-migration/aldol and Mannich-type reactions in ionic liquid,” 214 Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical 147-154, 2004
- Co-author. “Aldol- and Mannich-type reactions via in situ olefin migration in ionic liquid,” 5 Organic Letters 657-660, 2003
- Co-author. “Ruthenium-catalyzed tandem olefin migration/aldol and Mannich-type reactions in water and protic solvents,” European Journal of Organic Chemistry 998-1003, 2003
- Co-author. “Diastereoselective synthesis of polysubstituted tetrahydropyrans and thiacyclohexanes via indium trichloride mediated cyclizations,” 66 Journal of Organic Chemistry 739-747, 2001
- Co-author. “Diastereoselective synthesis of multi-substituted thiacyclohexanes via cation-olefine cyclization,” 41 Tetrahedron Letters 1321-1325, 2000
- Mehta, Rani. “Behind the case: How Procopio secured life sciences PTAB win,” “Managing IP,” July 30, 2024.
- Clemetson, Jeff. “Procopio Advisors Prepare Life Sciences Success Strategies,” July 24, 2023.
- “Procopio elects partner to management committee,” San Diego Daily Transcript, May 15, 2023.
- Sherwin, Doug. “On the Move,” San Diego Daily Transcript, May 8, 2023.
- “Procopio Partner Xiaofan ‘Frank’ Yang elected to firm’s Management Committee,” SD Metro Daily Business Report, May 5, 2023.
- Jessie Yount. “Procopio to Boost Bid for Life Sciences Work with Growth Adviser from Deloitte,” The Recorder, January 31, 2022.
- “Procopio adds partner,” San Diego Daily Transcript, November 4, 2019.
