MaryAnne Armstrong has a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in biochemistry, with a master’s degree in immunology, both from Cornell University. Dr. Armstrong worked as a post-doctoral fellow in the Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, National Cancer Institute, NIH. She has practiced in the intellectual property field since 1995, working with both large and small companies and universities, for the preparation and prosecution of patent applications in the fields of immunology, pharmaceutical chemistry, biotechnology, vaccines, therapeutic antibodies, organic chemistry, assay and drug screening systems, medical devices and plant patents.

Dr. Armstrong is experienced in post-grant procedures, including inter partes review and interference practices. Dr. Armstrong successfully represented a third party requestor in the inter partes reexamination invalidation of a patent through the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) and successfully represented the petitioner in the invalidation of three biologics patents in IPR proceedings. Dr. Armstrong has considerable experience in counseling clients with regard to FTO opinions based on infringement and/or validity analysis, as well as counseling clients with regard to patentability analyses and the preparation of license agreements and collaboration agreements. She is also experienced in FDA related procedures, including ANDAs and requests for Patent Term Extension.

Dr. Armstrong lectures around the world on patent and FDA matters and was named a Life Science Star by LMG Life Sciences in 2012, 2013 and 2015, an IP Star by Managing IP in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2022, and a WIPR Leader in 2016, 2017, 2022, and 2023. In 2019 she was made an ACS Fellow and is the past Chair of the Chemistry & the Law (CHAL) Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS).  She currently serves on the CHAL Executive Committee, the editorial boards of AIPLA Quarterly Journal and Life Sciences IP Review and as the secretary of US-AIPPI. Dr. Armstrong was recently included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® in the field of Patent Law. View Dr. Armstrong's profile here.

Representative Matters

  • Genzyme Therapeutic Products Ltd. v. BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. [IPR Nos. 2013-00534 and -00537] 119 USPQ2d 1022 (Fed. Cir. 2016) – Enzyme Replacement Therapy for Pompe Disease
  • BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc. v. Duke University, IPR2013-00535 (PTAB 2015) – Enzyme Replacement Therapy for Pompe Disease
  • Chemi v. Kappos and Fidia, Appeal No. 2010-1514, (Fed. Cir. 2011) – Process for purifying phosphatidylserine
  • Duke Univ. v. BioMarin Pharm. Inc., No. 2018-1696, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 30468 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 11, 2019)

Speaking Engagements

    Current Speaking Engagements

Articles

  • October 19, 2023

    Taking off the cloak of invisibility

    by MaryAnne Armstrong, Ph.D. | World Intellectual Property Review

    Dr. MaryAnne Armstrong was published in World IP Review’s latest edition of WIPR Diversity. Dr. Armstrong touches on the topic of traditionally marginalized groups and how they can often struggle at work to reveal their invisible diversities.

  • September 5, 2023

    BSKB Lawyers Recognized as Best Lawyers® Award Recipients

    by | Best Lawyers

    Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP is pleased to announce that 4 lawyers have been included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.

  • June 30, 2022

    MaryAnne Armstrong, Ph.D. & Paul Lewis - Patent Stars for 2022

    by IP Stars 2022 | Managing IP

    BSKB’s MaryAnne Armstrong, Ph.D. and Paul Lewis have been named Patent Stars for 2022. The annual IP Star Rankings, published by Managing IP, are awarded based on peer and client nominations. Additionally, BSKB has been named a “Recommended Firm” for Intellectual Property for 2022.

  • May 23, 2022

    MaryAnne Armstrong, Ph.D Selected for The WIPR 2022 Leaders Directory

    by World IP Review | WIPR 2022 Leaders Directory

    We are proud to announce that BSKB’s MaryAnne Armstrong, Ph.D. has been selected to the WIPR Leaders 2022 Directory!

  • April 26, 2022

    Label Ruling Upends Generic Medicine Makers

    by MaryAnne Armstrong | WIPR

    The effects of the ‘skinny label’ decision are being felt across pharma. MaryAnne Armstrong of Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch revisits GSK v Teva.

Presentations