Dr. Sarah Cork

Partner

scork@corkmaloney.com
Tel. (310) 895.9401

  • Education

    • J.D., University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, cum laude

      • Editor in Chief, Michigan Telecommunications & Technology Law Review

    • Ph.D., Emory University

    • B.S., Duke University, with distinction

      • James B. Rast Departmental Book Award (Comparative Organismal Biology)

    Admissions

    • California

    • U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

  • Awards

    • Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch (Litigation – Patent): 2023 – 2025

    • Super Lawyers “Rising Star”: 2018 – 2019, 2021 – 2024

    Publications

    • S.M. Cork et al., A furin/MMP-14 proteolytic cascade releases a novel 40 kDa vasculostatin from tumor suppressor BAI1, 31 Oncogene 5144–52 (2012)

    • S.M. Cork & E.G. Van Meir, Emerging roles for the BAI1 protein family in the regulation of phagocytosis, synaptogenesis, neurovasculature and tumor development, 89 J. Mol. Med. 743–52 (2011)

    • B. Kaur, S.M. Cork, et al. Vasculostatin inhibits intracranial glioma growth and negatively regulates in vivo angiogenesis through a CD36-dependent mechanism, 69 Cancer Res. 1212–20 (2009)

  • Patent Litigation and PTAB Practice

    • Genentech, Inc. v. Immunex Rhode Island Corp., 19-cv-00602 (D. Del.). Among other victories, represented Amgen in successfully defeating Genentech’s attempt to enjoin the at-risk launch of Amgen’s anti-cancer AVASTIN biosimilar (bevacizumab), as the district court and Federal Circuit agreed with Amgen’s interpretation of the BPCIA, leading to favorable settlement.

    • Impossible Foods, Inc. v. Motif FoodWorks, Inc., 22-cv-00311 (D. Del.). Represented Motif in district court and PTAB in multi-patent litigation on genetic expression systems and recombinant food technology, leading to patent invalidation and favorable settlement.

    • 10x Genomics, Inc. v. Vizgen, Inc., 22-cv-00595 (D. Del.). Represented Vizgen in multi-patent and antitrust litigation over oligo-based spatial transcriptomics cellular imaging technology, resulting in favorable settlement.

    • Natera, Inc. v. CareDx, Inc., 20-cv-00038 (D. Del.). Represented Natera in multi-patent infringement dispute over transplant rejection testing technologies, leading to eight-figure trial verdict.

    • SynAffix B.V. v. Hangzhou DAC Biotech Co., Ltd., IPR2022-01531. Represented patentee DAC in obtaining denial of institution of inter partes review on linker technology for antibody-drug conjugates.

    • Regeneron Pharms., Inc. v. Samsung Bioepis, Inc., 23-cv-00094 (N.D. W. Va.). Represented Bioepis in pending BPCIA litigation and related IPRs concerning EYLEA biosimilar (aflibercept) for the treatment of retinal diseases.

    • Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC v. Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., 16-cv-812 (D. Del.). Represented Sanofi in Hatch-Waxman litigation over market-leading LANTUS recombinant insulin product (insulin glargine), leading to favorable settlement.

    • Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co. v. Emcure Pharm. Ltd., 15-cv-280 (D.N.J.). Represented plaintiff-patentees in multi-jurisdictional Hatch-Waxman litigation concerning atypical antipsychotic agent LATUDA (lurasidone HCl), leading to favorable settlement.

    • Erfindergemeinschaft UroPep GbR v. Eli Lilly & Co., 15-cv-1202 (E.D. Tex.). Represented plaintiff-patentee in infringement dispute concerning methods of treating benign prostatic hyperplasia using phosphodiesterase inhibitors, resulting in an eight-figure judgment. 

    Inventorship and Commercial Litigation

    • Nektar Therapeutics v. Eli Lilly & Co., 23-cv-03943 (N.D. Cal.). Represented Nektar in pending breach of contract dispute relating to development of an IL-2 derivative drug candidate for autoimmune disorders.

    • Gilead Tenofovir Cases, CJC-19-005043 (Cal. Super. Ct.) and related federal cases. Represented Gilead in drug product liability litigation concerning the development of small-molecule therapies for HIV.  This case, which has attracted more than 100 amici and is currently pending before the California Supreme Court, involves the question of whether a manufacturer of a non-defective product has a duty to develop, without delay, a different product that is safer for some consumers.

    • Altaire Pharms. Inc. v. Paragon BioTeck Inc., 17-cv-01837 (E.D.N.Y.); PGR2015-00011. Represented Altaire in inventorship litigation over alleged misappropriation of ophthalmic drug invention in defendant’s patent, leading to favorable settlement.  Among other victories, the Federal Circuit agreed that Altaire had Article III standing to appeal a PGR final written decision of the patent and reversed and vacated the PTAB.

    • Previvo Genetics, LLC v. Pagidas, 16-cv-02261 (N.D. Cal.). Represented Previvo in patent inventorship dispute over novel in vitro fertilization technologies, leading to favorable settlement.

    Matters relate to work at prior firm unless otherwise indicated.

Dr. Sarah Cork is a seasoned patent attorney with extensive experience advising life sciences companies—from startups to global enterprises—on a wide range of intellectual property matters. She draws on more than a decade of practice in high-stakes life sciences patent and commercial matters at leading international law firms.

Sarah leverages her Ph.D. in Neuroscience and professional training in translational biologic drug discovery to bring scientific depth to her legal practice. Her technical expertise spans a broad array of cutting-edge technologies including immunotherapies, antibody-drug conjugates, AI-enabled precision medicine, cell-free diagnostic techniques, oligonucleotides for spatial transcriptomics and gene silencing, IVF and ocular surgical techniques, medical devices including pen injectors and aortic stents, gene sequencing, recombinant DNA technology, consumables, and biologic and small molecule therapies targeting diabetes, cancer, HIV, and dermatological, urological, and neurological conditions.

Sarah works closely with her clients to protect their innovations and develop IP strategies that support both immediate and long-term business objectives.

Her practice encompasses patent prosecution, IP due diligence, freedom-to-operate analyses, and strategic counseling on patent scope, validity, and enforceability. She also advises on due diligence in licensing and M&A transactions in the life sciences sector.

As a litigator and PTAB practitioner, Sarah is deeply familiar with all phases of a matter, from pre-suit investigation, discovery, and dispositive motion practice through trial and appeal. Her teams rely on her unique ability to craft sophisticated merits arguments and manage technical subject matter experts efficiently.

Sarah has special expertise with biologic drug litigation from her work on flagship cases under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA). Her significant litigation practice also includes diverse pharmaceutical and Hatch-Waxman (ANDA) matters, post-grant proceedings, patent inventorship disputes, and drug product liability cases.

For her achievements, Sarah has been repeatedly ranked by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch and Super Lawyers: Rising Stars.

Beyond her legal practice, Sarah serves as the Vice President of the Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association. She is also actively involved in the SoCal entrepreneurship scene and a member of the Pasadena Angels.

Sarah remains closely engaged with the scientific community, serving as an invited SBIR grant reviewer and a formal advisor and mentor to incubators and accelerators for early-stage life sciences companies. She is committed to mentoring early-career women science professionals and inventors.