John Weatherspoon, J.D. ,Ph.D.

Biography

John Weatherspoon is a patent attorney at NGUYEN TARBET LLC. For over twenty years, John has been an IP advisor to hundreds of companies from startup companies to much larger, well-established publicly traded companies. John has advised hundreds of clients in almost every industry including, for example, aerospace, biotech, healthcare and medical, pharmaceutical, computer, semiconductor and many other industries. As a registered U.S. patent attorney, John regularly works with clients on strategies for building and protecting their valuable intellectual property. He also regularly advises on the monetization and enforcement of IP portfolios. John also regularly provides freedom to operate opinions, handles IP due diligence and IP licensing and in general advises on strategies for commercialization of IP. In addition, John has over twenty years of patent litigation experience and he has been on several successful litigation teams representing his clients. John has represented clients from many different industries and he also has significant ANDA and ITC patent litigation experience.

Prior to joining NGUYEN TARBET LLC, John was a co-founder of a startup pharmaceutical company called Affirmed Pharma. John also previously worked as a registered U.S. patent attorney at a few small boutique firms and also some very large firms in the Washington DC area (Morgan Lewis, Winston & Strawn). In addition, John was a U.S. Patent Examiner and he also worked as a research scientist at Burroughs Wellcome (now part of GlaxoSmithKline) in Research Triangle Park, NC.

Education

  • George Mason University School of Law (J.D., 2002)
  • The George Washington University (Ph.D. in Pharmacology, 1998)
  • Duke University (B.S. in Neuroscience, 1990)

Other Professional Experience

John also has a lot of professional experience as an advisor, author, panelist, speaker at conferences, an instructor and a mentor to young entrepreneurs. Here is a representative summary of some of John’s professional activities:

  • Invited to be listed in “Top 100 Innovators and Entrepreneurs Magazine” (2024)
  • Invited for listing in “Marquis Who’s Who in America” (2023)
  • Invited to participate in the Healthcare CEOs Roundtable (Opus Connect) (2022)
  • Author, “Considerations for Effective Patent Strategies in the Life Sciences” (The Life Sciences Lawyer magazine) (2021)
  • IP Advisor to PandemicTech (2016-2017)
  • IP Advisor, VesaliuX accelerator, Houston, TX (2016-2017)
  • Mentor, NIH Commercialization Accelerator Program (NIH CAP) FeedForwardTM Session, sponsored by the Larta Institute (2016)
  • Speaker, “Latest Trends and Developments in IP Licensing Agreements Explored! LIVE Webcast”; The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series (2015)
  • Speaker, Intellectual Property Licensing, INPEX Annual Conference, Pennsylvania (2012)
  • Participant, Marcus Evans Intellectual Property conference, Singapore (2012)
  • Speaker, “IP Research Strategies: Getting a Grip on the Competitive Landscape and Identifying the Best Targets”; Annual Licensing Executive Society Conference, San Diego, CA (2011)
  • IP Speaker, UNEMED Regional Technology Transfer Conference (“MTECHX”), Omaha Nebraska (2011)
  • Guest Instructor for the Discovery to Market course, at the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School, Baltimore, MD (2011)
  • Speaker on BNA’s Video Insight Intellectual Property series, greater Washington DC area (2010)
  • Panelist, Biotechnology/Life Sciences section, MIT Enterprise Forum, Washington DC area (2010)
  • Panelist, “Learning to Love IP: You Can’t Make a Drug Without It” at the Life Sciences Summit 2010, Long Island, NY (2010)
  • Speaker, Obtaining Effective and Enforceable U.S. Patents, Executive MBA Program, Mt. Washington Conference Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (2010)
  • Organizer and Speaker, Practical Strategies for Researchers, Universities, Governments and Foundations to Facilitate and Sustain the Development and Funding of Additional Translational Research Programs, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (2010)
  • Speaker, Practical Tips for International Patent Protection, Inventors Network of the Capital Area; greater Washington DC area (2010)
  • Speaker, Intellectual Property Issues in Structuring Deals, Montgomery County, Maryland Technology Incubation Center; greater Washington DC area (2009)
  • Speaker, Practical Tips for Obtaining Effective and Enforceable U.S. Patents, Inventors Network of the Capital Area; greater Washington DC area (2009)

Bar Admissions

  • State Bar of Maryland
  • District of Columbia Bar (D.C. Bar)
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • S. Patent Practitioner in Texas

Selected Publications:

  • Weatherspoon JK, Werling LL. Modulation of Amphetamine-Stimulated [3H]Dopamine Release from Rat Pheochromocytoma (PC12) Cells by Sigma Type 2 Receptors. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 289(1): 278-84, 1999.
  • Weatherspoon JK, Frank AR, Werling LL. Neurotensin, N-acetyl-Aspartylglutamate and Beta-Endorphin Modulate [3H]Dopamine Release from Guinea Pig Nucleus Accumbens, Prefrontal Cortex and Caudate Putamen. Neuropeptides 30(5): 497-505, 1996.
  • Rigdon GC, Weatherspoon JK. 5-Hydroxytryptamine 1a Receptor Agonists Block Prepulse Inhibition of Acoustic Startle Reflex. Pharm. and Exper. Therapeutics, 263(2): 486-93, 1992.