Dr. Martin Ellinger focuses on patent prosecution and portfolio management, with an emphasis in chemistry and life sciences.

Since joining the firm, Martin has participated in patent application drafting and patent prosecution in the field of organic chemistry, with a particular technical emphasis on small molecule pharmaceuticals, polymers, formulations, and agricultural products. He has also provided support for a variety of freedom-to-operate and due diligence projects, for example, Medivation’s acquisition of BioMarin’s phase III cancer drug, talazoparib, for $410 million upfront with another $160 million in milestones. Martin has worked with a wide range of clients, including startup biotech and chemistry companies, large pharmaceutical companies, and independent inventors.

Prior to joining the firm, Martin worked at Sanofi-Aventis as an industrial intern. His projects included investigating solvent replacement in an industrial-scale process for regulatory compliance.

Martin received his Diplôme d’Ingénieur (equivalent to an M.Sc.) in chemical sciences and engineering from École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris and an M.Sc. in organic chemistry from the Université Pierre et Marie Curie. He received his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California, San Diego. His doctoral research in the laboratory of Professor Guy Bertrand focused on developing stable versions of elusive octet-defying molecules (e.g., carbenes, nitrenes).

Martin has been granted limited recognition to practice in patent matters before the USPTO. He a native French speaker.