Esther Ju represents clients in a variety of transactions and commercial matters related to life sciences, technology, and intellectual property. Esther has experience in licensing transactions, collaboration agreements, and mergers and acquisitions.
Prior to joining the firm, Esther was an intellectual property litigation associate at another general practice law firm. During law school, she served as an Associate Editor for the University of Illinois Law Review.
Esther also maintains a pro bono practice, assisting LGBTQ+ individuals seeking asylum in the United States.
Experience
- LegoChem Biosciences in an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with Janssen on LCB84, a Trop2 directed antibody drug conjugate. LCB and Janssen will collaborate during the ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial for LCB84, and then Janssen will be responsible for clinical development and commercialization of LCB84. LCB is eligible for up to US$1.7 billion -- an upfront payment of US$100 million, an option exercise payment of US$200 million, and other milestone payments. LCB will also receive tiered royalties on any net sales
- BioNTech in a license and collaboration agreement with MediLink Therapeutics for the development of a next-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) candidate against Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 3 (HER3), with deal value totaling over US$1 billion.
- Sanofi S.A., a pharmaceutical company, in its acquisition of Qunol, a market-leading, U.S.-based brand in the healthy aging segment.
- BioNTech SE in the negotiation of a license and collaboration agreement with OncoC4 Inc. for the in-license of an antibody candidate for various cancer indications.
- Alcon Inc. in its acquisition of Kala Pharmaceutical’s commercial portfolio and related intellectual property assets. The assets included EYSUVIS, the first and only US FDA-approved medicine for the short-term treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease, and INVELTYS, a twice-a-day corticosteroid for the treatment of post-operative inflammation and pain following ocular surgery.
- Life sciences and pharmaceutical companies in licensing and collaboration, manufacture and supply transactions.
Credentials
Education
- J.D., University of Illinois College of Law, 2020, magna cum laude
- B.S., Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2016
Admissions
- Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- New York
Languages
- Korean