Megan McMellon

Life sciences and healthcare

• GSK on:
  • Its development and licensing agreement with SiranBio for oligonucleotide drug candidate SA030 targeting metabolic and vascular risk across lung, liver and kidney disease.
  • Its development and licensing agreement with Frontier Biotechnologies for two small interfering RNA pipeline products targeting kidney disease.
  • The IP/IT aspects of its acquisition of RAPT Therapeutics.
  • Its AI license and partnership with AI-native biotech Noetik, under which Noetik will license two cancer research foundation models to GSK.
  • Its COVID/flu mRNA vaccine settlement and licensing arrangements with BioNTech, CureVac and Pfizer.
  • Its research collaboration with the University of Oxford establishing the GSK-Oxford Cancer Immuno-Prevention Programme.
  • Its licensing arrangements with CureVac for influenza/COVID mRNA vaccines.
• Shionogi on:
  • Its hearing loss collaboration with, and investment into, Salubritas.
  • Its hearing loss collaboration with, and investment into, Cilcare.
  • Its joint venture with Apnimed for the development of therapies for obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep disorders, and subsequent acquisition of Apnimed’s equity interest.
  • Its licence agreement with the Medicines Patent Pool for Shionogi’s COVID-19 antiviral candidate ensitrelvir fumaric acid to allow qualified generic manufacturers to manufacture and supply ensitrelvir in up to 117 low- and middle-income countries.
  • Its strategic collaboration with F2G to develop and commercialize a new antifungal agent for invasive fungal infections in Europe and Asia.
• Exscientia on:
  • The IP/IT aspects of its combination with U.S. based technology-enabled biotech company Recursion to create a leading Nasdaq-listed technology-first, end-to-end drug discovery company.
  • Its research collaboration with Merck focused on the discovery of novel small molecule drug candidates across oncology, neuroinflammation and immunology.
  • Its strategic research collaboration with Sanofi to develop an AI-driven pipeline of precision-engineered medicines across oncology and immunology.
  • Its collaboration with GT Apeiron Therapeutics to discover and develop compounds targeting oncology, and subsequent acquisition of GT Apeiron’s share of its oral CDK7 inhibitor programme.
  • Its collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb to accelerate the discovery of small molecule therapeutic drug candidates in multiple therapeutic areas.
• Haleon on:
  • The IP/IT and supply chain aspects of its sale of the ChapStick brand worldwide to Suave Brands Company.
  • The IP/IT aspects of its acquisition of Alligator Dental, which created and operates a novel subscription-based dental discount plan that functions as an alternative to dental insurance for people in the U.S. who cannot otherwise access or afford expensive insurance.
  • The IP/IT and supply chain aspects of its divestment to STADA of 15 consumer healthcare brands, covering multiple therapeutic areas.
• Kyowa Kirin International on:
  • The out-licensing of its IDO-1 inhibitor targeting Epstein-Barr virus pathologies to Hornet Therapeutics.
  • The IP/IT and supply chain aspects of its joint venture collaboration with Grünenthal in respect of KKI’s established medicines portfolio.
• Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine on its research collaboration with Triana Biomedicines, under which the parties will leverage Triana's proprietary molecular glue discovery technology to discover small molecule, molecular glue compounds that bind E3 ligases identified by Triana to certain biological targets of interest to JJIM.
• Almirall on its licensing deal with Simcere, under which Almirall was granted the exclusive right to develop and commercialize SIM0278 for all indications outside of the Greater China region.
• ALJ Health on its collaboration with Evelo Biosciences to develop and commercialise novel therapy EDP1815 for inflammatory diseases and COVID-19 in Africa, the Middle East and Turkey and a related equity investment.
• Isomorphic Labs on the structuring of its strategic AI drug discovery partnerships with pharmaceutical companies under which Isomorphic Laboratories would deploy its AI platform to recommend candidate compounds against drug targets.
• BioNTech on the IP/IT aspects of its acquisition of Biotheus, a PRC-based clinical stage biotech company dedicated to discovery and development of novel antibodies to address cancer or inflammatory disease.
• Grünenthal on the IP/IT and supply chain aspects of its acquisition of cholesterol drug Crestor in Europe (excluding Spain and the UK) from AstraZeneca.
• Neuraxpharm on the supply chain aspects of its acquisition of epilepsy drug Buccolam from Takeda.

Consumer and retail 

• Associated British Foods on:
  • The proposed demerger of its retail business (Primark) from its food business (FoodCo).
  • The IP/IT aspects of its acquisition of Hovis Group, one of the best-known brands in the UK bakery sector.
• Castore, a UK-based precision performance sportswear manufacturer, retailer and kit supplier to professional teams and athletes across a range of sports, on the IP/IT and commercial aspects of its acquisition of Belstaff, a British modern heritage brand.
• L'Oréal Groupe on the IP/IT aspects of its acquisition of a majority stake in Medik8.
• Exponent Private Equity on the IP/IT and supply chain aspects of its acquisition of International Flavor & Fragrances’s Flavor Speciality Ingredients division, a global leader in the base aromas market headquartered in the UK (now known as Natara).
• The Weston family/Wittington Investments on the IP/IT aspects of its sale of the Selfridges Group to Central Group and Signa Holding.
• Uni-President on the IP aspects of its acquisition of Carrefour Taiwan from the Carrefour Group.Meadow Foods on the IP/IT and commercial aspects of its acquisition of Nimbus Foods.
• Majestic Wine (now Naked Wines) on the IP/IT and commercial aspects of the disposal of its retail and commercial business to Fortress Investment Group.
• Aviator on its long-term partnership with Flutter Entertainment, under which Aviator-branded online games will be marketed and distributed internationally by Flutter Entertainment.
• Virgin Atlantic on the IP aspects of its solvent recapitalisation following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global aviation industry.
• TripActions (now known as Naven) on the IP/IT aspects of its acquisition of high-end travel, meetings and events business Reed & Mackay.