10 August 2018Americas

LSIPR 50 2018: Lorie Ann Morgan

Name: Lorie Ann Morgan

Organisation: Gilead Sciences

Position: Vice President of IP

Gilead is a company that regularly hits the life sciences headlines. In February alone, LSIPR reported that a district judge overturned a record $2.54 billion verdict against Gilead for patent infringement and that a non-profit organisation had requested that the US government take the title of a Gilead patent because of an alleged failure to report funding.

Lorie Ann Morgan is on the front line—she serves as vice president of IP at Gilead, defending and enforcing the company’s patents. Her team has successfully defended patent estates for the company’s HIV and hepatitis C compounds and medications.

"She has also served as a key member of the team working to assess and execute on corporate partnerships and acquisitions."

Morgan joined Gilead nearly a decade ago, in September 2008, and transitioned to her current role of leading IP in July 2012. She’s responsible for the global protection, enforcement and defence of Gilead’s IP, which includes its patents and trademarks. According to Gilead, Morgan has “instilled in her team a culture that fosters partnership with colleagues across the organisation, to ensure the group has a deep understanding of Gilead’s business and can deliver results”.

Her team of professionals work to support and protect the IP that “allows Gilead to pursue continued innovation across a range of complex scientific and medical challenges”.

She has also served as a key member of the team working to assess and execute on corporate partnerships and acquisitions. In August last year, Gilead revealed plans to acquire Kite Pharma for $11.9 billion, a move that has helped position Gilead as a leader in cell therapy.

Prior to joining Gilead, Morgan spent more than ten years at GSK, during which time she was engaged in patent portfolio development, patent enforcement and defence. Morgan has a JD from the University of North Carolina School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.