Julian Thurston is a UK-qualified partner in the firm’s Technology Transactions Group and managing partner of the London office. He is regarded as one of the top life sciences transactional attorneys in the UK. A recent Global Counsel guide gave him the highest rating (“Leading”) and describes him as a “premier collaborative IP specialist, very highly rated for his expertise in commercial exploitation, protection and strategic planning issues, particularly within the biotech and medical device sectors . . . with almost unmatched UK and EU commercialization and partnering expertise.” Mr. Thurston is one of the first UK attorneys to focus on life sciences transactions, and has developed a strong position in the market.

Mr. Thurston has a track record of handling transforming deals and maintains a transactional practice, with particular expertise in the representation of biotechs in IP licensing, strategic partnering and other collaboration matters. Recent transactions carried out by his team include:

• Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics BV. Advising Netherlands-based Amsterdam Molecular, on aspects of its €22 million series A fundraising led by ABN AMRO including advising on the intellectual property licensing regime underpinning the deal. Also advising the company on aspects of its subsequent €50 million IPO on Euronext, Amsterdam.
• Arrow Therapeutics. Advising Arrow, a privately owned pharmaceutical company focused exclusively on infectious disease, in connection with its $217 million collaboration with Novartis.
• Cambridge Antibody Technology Group plc . Representing CAT in connection with a transforming strategic alliance with AstraZeneca to discover and develop human antibody therapeutics primarily in the area of inflammatory disorders. This collaboration was awarded “Business Development Deal of the Year” at the 2005 Pharmaceutical Achievement Awards conference in Boston.
• GW Pharmaceutical PLC . Representing GW Pharmaceutical, an AIM-listed pharmaceutical research and development company, on a $273 million long-term strategic cannabinoid alliance with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd . Under the terms of the license agreement, GW has granted
• Otsuka an exclusive license to develop and market Sativex®, GW’s lead product, in the United States. Sativex® is being developed by GW and is a novel prescription pharmaceutical product derived from components of the cannabis plant. Also advising GW Pharmaceutical on a collaboration with Spanish pharmaceutical company, Almirall Prodesfarma, S.A . to market Sativex® in Europe (excluding the UK).
• Hunter Fleming. Representing Hunter-Fleming in a joint venture with dedicated funding to fast track the development of HF1020, a compound that embraces a novel concept for treating asthma and allergic conditions. The new company, to be based in Boston, US, will be called Trident Pharmaceuticals Inc. MTI Partners won the UK Trade & Investment Global International Deal of the Year at the Investor AllStars Awards, September 2006 for the funding associated with this transaction.
• Intercell A.G. Advising Intercell AG on a major vaccines partnership with Novartis under which Novartis will receive exclusive, worldwide rights to certain influenza vaccines as well as opt in rights to Intercell's non-partnered vaccines.
• KuDOS Pharmaceuticals Ltd . Representing KuDOS Pharmaceuticals in its potential corporate partnering agreements for PARP immediately prior to its successful trade sale to AstraZeneca.
• Kuros Biosurgery AG . Representing Kuros in a product license and collaboration agreement with subsidiaries of Baxter International, Inc. Kuros has granted Baxter exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize a portfolio of hard and soft tissue-repair products.
• Lorantis. Representing Lorantis, a Cambridge UK-based immunotherapy company in relation to its collaboration agreement with Corixa Corporation , a developer of immunotherapeutics.
• Norgine. Advising Norgine, the European specialty pharmaceutical company, on an agreement to grant U.S.-based Salix Pharmaceuticals the exclusive rights to market MOVIPREP (NRL994) in the USA.
• PIramed Limited . Advising PIramed, a privately owned UK biotechnology company, on a $230 million R&D collaboration with one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies, Genentech, Inc. (NYSE: DNA), for the development and commercialization of a new class of cancer drugs.
• Renovo Group plc. Advising Renovo on a $825 million licensing agreement with Shire plc to develop and commercialize Juvista, Renovo’s lead drug. Renovo’s exclusive licensing agreement with Shire covers every country throughout the world except Member States of the European Union, the rights to which have been retained by Renovo.
• Vernalis plc . Representing Vernalis plc in a $400 million transforming deal with Endo Pharmaceuticals comprising a North American licence and co-promotion rights agreement for FROVA and related loan and security arrangements. Also representing Vernalis in connection with a $100 million collaboration with U.S. biotech Biogen Idec and in relation to the associated equity subscription; and upon the exercise by Novartis of an option to a licence and a related equity subscription.