Innovation Law and Tech News | DEV-College of Law | Illinois

Sherkow cited extensively in blog post on drug labels

Chris Davies — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 16:30:33 +0000

In an analysis of a brief expected to be filed in the fall, the Patently-O blog cites the work of Professor Jacob Sherkow extensively in examining the ‘label-plus’ theory of inducement. This framework establishes that a generic drug’s label by itself cannot violate patent protections because of a congressionally authorized regulatory scheme. Sherkow’s work, in particular, helps illuminate the distinction between regulatory and factual speech in the particulars of the case at issue.

Read the full blog online.

Sherkow presents at ATRIP Congress in Copenhagen

Chris Davies — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 16:21:31 +0000

In June, Professor Jacob Sherkow traveled to Denmark to present his work, “Patent Eligibility, Secure Computing, and Genomic Data Sharing,” at the ATRIP Congress at the University of Copenhagen. His presentation took place on Monday, June 23, as part of the Intellectual Property & Justice: Balancing Frameworks in Patent Law portion of the conference.

Learn more about the event on the ATRIP Congress website.

Sherkow quoted in article on polygenic testing startups

Chris Davies — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 18:10:09 +0000

Polygenic testing startups offer consumers the chance of a “superbaby” by screening for genetic disorders and allowing parents to select certain embryos for fertilization; however, the ethics and the science of this practice are very controversial. Speaking to The San Francisco Standard, Professor Jacob Sherkow added his expertise on the issue. “[These companies] claim to have a proprietary algorithm, which, in reality, is a total black box,” he said. “If they are not completely accurate, consumers may make adverse health choices on the basis of misinformation.”

Read the full article from The San Francisco Standard.

Gerke publishes article on 23andMe in BMJ

Chris Davies — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 14:23:59 +0000

One of the most concerning aspects of genetic testing company 23andMe filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Professor Sara Gerke writes in a new article published in BMJ, is the range of information the company holds. Along with her co-authors, Gerke explores the issues presented by the genetic information, such as from saliva samples, self-reported health and personal information, biometric information, and other basic information controlled by 23andMe. They argue customers made a deal to share information, at some privacy risk, in exchange for potential ancestry and health-related insights, but that does not absolve the company from protecting privacy in bankruptcy.

Read the full article in BMJ.

Sherkow presents research at Cambridge

Chris Davies — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 14:16:52 +0000

Professor Jacob Sherkow recently had the chance to present his research, “A Sociotechnical Approach to Genomic Data Security: A Comparative Legal Analysis,” to the Law, Medicine and Life Sciences group at the University of Cambridge Faculty of Law. In addition to his position at the College of Law, where he serves as director of the Intellectual Property and Technology Law Program, Sherkow also holds appointments at the at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the European Union Center, and the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. He is a leading expert on IP protection for genome-editing technologies, such as CRISPR.

Multiple outlets quote Sherkow on CRISPR patent dispute

Chris Davies — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 14:12:27 +0000

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in May that the key patents on what many consider the defining biotechnology invention of the 21st century should be reconsidered. Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier shared a 2020 Nobel Prize for developing the versatile gene-editing system CRISPR; however, the key patent rights were granted Feng Zhang of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in 2014. The rights have been contested since, and the appeals court ruling officially opens the question of ownership anew. Our intellectual property expert, Professor Jacob Sherkow, was quoted in multiple outlets about the dispute and what it means.

Gerke co-authors paper on pulse oximeters in JAMA

Chris Davies — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 18:46:18 +0000

Pulse oximeters are known to be less accurate for patients with darker skin, but manufacturers have not changed their design or included a warning label disclosing this information. A recent settlement and guidance from the FDA could prompt changes in the market, however. In a new paper published in JAMA, Professor Sara Gerke and her co-authors examine how these developments could solve problems and where issues may still exist.

Read the article on the JAMA Network.

MIT Technology Review quotes Sherkow on restoring the woolly mammoth

Chris Davies — Fri, 09 May 2025 16:11:19 +0000

Colossal Biosciences is making headlines with its bold initiative to bring back the woolly mammoth, but the venture raises significant ethical and legal questions. Professor Jacob Sherkow is quoted in a new article from the MIT Technology Review about the complexities surrounding intellectual property in de-extinction efforts. He notes that while natural animals cannot be patented, genetically modified organisms might be, leading to debates about ownership and commercialization of revived species.

Read the full article online.

Federal privacy laws protecting consumer data are necessary, Gerke says

Chris Davies — Fri, 09 May 2025 16:08:05 +0000

The bankruptcy of the genetic testing company 23andMe has raised a number of issues, but one specifically prudent issue is the lack of legislation preventing the sale of customers’ data due to financial exigencies. Speaking with the Illinois News Bureau, Professor Sara Gerke explained why this issue is significant. “Companies like 23andMe are sitting on a massive treasure trove of personal information because when people initially signed up, they thought, ‘Well, I’m getting something out of this transaction’ without thinking about the possibility that the company would ever go bankrupt at some point in the future and potentially offload their dataset,” she said. “That’s just one example, but we are in a world awash in big data, and it’s not a problem that’s limited to 23andMe.”

Read her full interview on the Illinois News Bureau site.

Gerke organizes Life Sciences AI Summit

Chris Davies — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 19:46:21 +0000

Professor Sara Gerke was co-organizer of the Life Sciences AI Summit – Europe, which took place March 25–26, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium. The conference covered the ways in which artificial intelligence in the life sciences is affecting topics such as drug discovery and development as well as improving patient outcomes. Another important aspect of the conference was an examination of legal, regulatory, compliance, liability and ethical challenges that must be addressed to ensure responsible, safe, and effective use of AI technologies.

Learn more on the conference website.