Life Sciences
Licensing and collaboration counsel for life sciences companies
In life sciences, value is built on agreements. A university option, a research collaboration, or a regional out-license sets terms that follow an asset for years, including who owns the results, who controls development, and how the value is shared. Those terms are tested again at every financing, partnership, and exit.
Apex Legal advises biotech, pharmaceutical, and research-driven companies on the licensing, collaboration, and IP transactions that move science toward the market. We understand the economics behind these deals, and we negotiate terms that protect your pipeline today while preserving flexibility for the partnerships and financings ahead.
What we handle
In-licensing and out-licensing.
Exclusive and non-exclusive licenses of drug candidates, platform technologies, and research tools, including field-of-use, territory, sublicensing, and diligence obligations.
Collaboration and co-development agreements.
Joint governance, cost sharing, ownership of jointly developed IP, and opt-in and commercialization rights.
Deal economics.
Upfront payments, development and sales milestones, tiered royalties, royalty stacking, and step-downs.
Academic and research agreements.
Sponsored research agreements, material transfer agreements, option agreements, and startup licenses with university technology transfer offices.
Clinical and development agreements.
Clinical trial agreements and agreements with contract research and manufacturing organizations.
Transactions and financings.
IP due diligence and transaction support for acquisitions, investments, and royalty transactions.
Who we work with
We represent emerging and clinical-stage biotech companies, pharmaceutical and medical technology companies, universities and research institutions, and the investors who fund them.
Our approach
Life sciences deals are long-term relationships, so we draft them to work across the full life of the asset, not just at signing. We focus on the terms that matter most to your business, anticipate how your next investor or acquirer will read the agreement, and move at the pace your deal requires.
Related practice areas:
Contact us to discuss your transaction.