Patents, Patients & Progress: A Conversation with Henry Hadad | IPWatchdog Unleashed

This week on IPWatchdog Unleashed we have an interesting and entertaining conversation with Henry Hadad, Chief IP Counsel and Deputy General Counsel at Bristol Myers Squibb. My conversation with Henry was wide ranging—beginning with his personal journey into patent law up to and including the current challenges facing innovators within the biopharma and IP landscapes.

A Serendipitous Entry into Patent Law

We begin the conversation by sharing our unique paths into the world of intellectual property. For me it was during my time as an electrical engineering student at Rutgers University that I discovered patent law reading a bulletin board posting and envisioning a fortuitous alternative to the engineering route. Henry, on the other hand, stumbled upon IP law when he realized that being a patent attorney was a viable career path after giving up on becoming a doctor because he was terrible in the lab setting, and couldn’t bring himself to give injections to rabbits. Both of our stories underscore the different ways many professionals in the field find their niche by chance rather than design.

The Intersection of Creativity and Law

Henry reflected on his upbringing, surrounded by family members in the entertainment industry, which imbued him with a profound appreciation for creativity. This creative foundation significantly influenced his enthusiasm for patent law, as he witnessed firsthand the impact of protecting innovations. As Henry eloquently put it, “Part of why I’m so passionate about what I do now is because I saw what [creativity] meant to them.”

Henry then told the story of buying his first guitar, which led me to ask about music. The conversation delved into iconic figures from music and innovation, drawing parallels between creative endeavors in music and breakthroughs in patent law. This provoked me to ask Henry who he thought the greatest guitarist of all time was—to which I said there is a right answer, although there are a variety of acceptable alternative choices. Henry said Jimi Hendrix is the greatest and I accepted the answer, although the correct answer is Eddie Van Halen, even if he did lose his path later in his career gravitating more to pop and synthesizers instead of his iconic guitar sound.

The Current State of the Patent System

A significant portion of our dialogue focused on the pressing issues facing the patent system, particularly in the biopharma sector. Henry expressed concerns over the implications of recent legal decisions on patent eligibility and how they affect innovation. “I have a firm belief that the patent system incentivizes innovation and investment,” Henry said as he emphasized the transformative impact of robust patent protection on medical advancements. And we both lamented how decisions like those in Myriad and Mayo, as well as the cases that have followed, have created hurdles for investing in diagnostics, which is such a crucial area for early cancer detection and treatment. I explained my frustrations with the patent system’s inability to adequately protect some of the most groundbreaking discoveries, which is a sentiment shared by many in the field.

The Human Impact of Patented Innovations for Patients

Touching stories from real life provided a poignant reminder of the human impact behind complex legal discussions. Henry shared anecdotes about patients whose lives have been saved due to patented innovations, underscoring the ultimate purpose of the industry’s relentless pursuit of progress. He conveyed the encouragement from patients who have benefited from life-saving drugs, fueling the determination to continue advancing research and protecting intellectual property.

Bridging the Gap Between Innovation and Policy

The conversation also tackled the broader implications of intellectual property on innovation, and we agreed on the need for a reconceptualization of policy approaches. And we both highlighted the need for cohesive messaging within the IP community to combat misconceptions and push for fact-based policy decision-making that promotes innovation rather than stifles it.

Henry concluded with a call to action for greater unity and collaboration within the IP field, stressing the importance of building coalitions to effectively advocate for a system that balances innovation with accessibility. “We need to keep pushing it,” Henry affirmed, reinforcing the notion that collective effort is essential to driving meaningful change in the intellectual property landscape.

As the podcast wrapped up, we left the audience with renewed appreciation for the intricate balance between creativity, law, innovation, and the investment necessary to bring into being the truly remarkable. We urged listeners to recognize the profound impact that patent law can have on society at large and expressed hope for the future. As we left the conversation Henry ended by saying: “When I asked AI if we will restore the patent system, it expressed cautious optimism. So, let’s hope so.”

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