Andrew T. Wilkins, Ph.D.

Andrew T. Wilkins, Ph.D. is a partner in Dechert’s intellectual property practice and co-chair of the patent counseling and prosecution group, focusing his practice on patent law relating to biotechnology. Dr. Wilkins has extensive experience representing biotech companies and investors in strategic international patent portfolio development and life cycle management, as well as non-infringement and invalidity analysis, post-grant proceedings and IP due diligence.

Dr. Wilkins has advised clients on matters relating to an array of biotech areas, including: therapeutic antibodies and antibody-like molecules for oncology, autoimmune, cardiovascular and infectious disease indications; immunotherapy, including CAR and recombinant TCR technologies, peptide-based vaccines and immune checkpoint antibodies; antibody and TCR discovery and engineering technologies; glycoengineering technologies, including antibody Fc glycoengineering technologies; viral delivery technologies, including lentiviral and AAV delivery technologies; gene therapy technologies, including gene replacement and gene editing technologies; biocompatible drug delivery vehicles, including controlled release nanoparticle liposome technologies; drug screening assays; RNAi technologies; and Bayh-Dole compliance in the acquisition or licensing of IP based upon NIH-funded research.

In addition to his practice, Dr. Wilkins has prolific academic and industrial research experience, his previous roles including: an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston; a graduate research student with GlaxoSmithKline, UK; a postdoctoral research associate with MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, UK; and an undergraduate research student with Celltech PLC, UK. He has authored/co-authored numerous scientific articles in top peer-reviewed journals, such as Genes and Development, Current Biology, Biochemical Journal, Genome Biology, Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton, Trends in Genetics and Methods in Enzymology.  

Dr. Wilkins is routinely listed by The Legal 500 US for Intellectual Property: Patents: Prosecution, including most recently in 2024, where he has been noted as “one of the best IP counsel” who is “able to quickly work through the most complex issues and come up with practical guidance.” He is regularly named a World's Leading Patent Practitioner in Massachusetts by IAM Patent 1000, where in 2024, he was described as someone who “draws on his science background to provide tailored advice for his following, which includes venture capitals and investors looking to enhance their financing of groundbreaking life sciences innovations.” In a previous edition, IAM described Dr. Wilkins as a "master at developing worldwide patent portfolios." Dr. Wilkins has also been recognized as a leading patent lawyer by Super Lawyers, which named him a "Rising Star" from 2016- 2022.