Dr. Christopher (Chris) Hazuka advises life sciences companies on the agreements and transactions that are essential to their success at all stages of their life cycle, drawing on his experience as a scientist and former in-house counsel.

Chris, based in both San Diego and the Bay Area, brings clients a scientist’s sensibility, a passion for creating synergies to bring innovation to market, and a pragmatic understanding of the full complement of business and legal issues clients face. In particular, he helps established and emerging life sciences companies by providing problem-solving advice to structure, negotiate, and execute a myriad of transactions, such as:

  • Complex collaborations
  • Intellectual property and technology licenses
  • Relationships to assist in developing drug candidates and innovative technologies
  • Manufacturing and quality agreements
  • Commercial agreements, including profit sharing and co-promotion agreements
  • University licenses
  • Clinical trial agreements

In the context of strategic transactions, he advises on:

  • Due diligence and disclosure matters
  • Venture financings, public offerings, and M&A transactions

Chris earned a PhD at Stanford University in the Neurosciences Program for his work in Dr. Richard Scheller’s laboratory on the molecular mechanisms of neurotransmission. He later served as in-house counsel for Orexigen Therapeutics, an emerging company that successfully developed and commercialized a drug to treat obesity. At the La Jolla, California-based company, Chris assisted with challenging issues across the company’s full range of legal matters.

He also clerked for Judge Jeremy Fogel of the United States District Court of Northern California, assisting on several high-stakes technology patent litigation matters.

Chris has advised a wide variety of life sciences companies and firms. A representative sampling includes:

Representative transactions include:

  • Endeavor BioMedicines’ license agreement with Hummingbird Bioscience for worldwide rights to HMBD-501, a next generation HER3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate
  • Ideaya Biosciences’ option and license agreement with Biocytogen to develop and commercialize novel bispecific antibody-drug-conjugate products targeted against B7H3 and PTK7
  • 4DMT in its license agreement with Astellas for rare monogenic ophthalmic disease(s)
  • CytomX Therapeutics’ collaboration with Astellas for the discovery, research, development, and commercialization of novel T-cell engaging bispecific antibodies targeting CD3 and selected tumor cell surface antigens for the treatment of cancer, using CytomX’s Probody® therapeutic technology platform
  • Ideaya Biosciences’ collaboration and license agreement with GlaxoSmithKline to develop Synthetic Lethality programs MAT2A, Pol Theta, and Werner Helicase programs
  • HilleVax’s collaboration with Takeda to develop and commercialize a norovirus vaccine candidate
  • Prometheus Biosciences from startup through sale to Merck
  • Frequency Therapeutics in its acquisition of Korro Bio, an RNA editing company focused on the discovery and development of novel genetic medicines
  • Mineralys from startup through IPO
  • Castle Creek’s collaboration with Fibrocell to develop and commercialize a gene therapy
  • Licenses in connection with formation of companies by California-based Frazier Healthcare, including Phathom Pharmaceuticals’ license agreement with Takeda
  • Distribution agreements on behalf of Tokyo-based Terumo, including with US-based startup Orchestra Biomed
  • License agreements with Recida and Lyzz Capital for development and commercialization in China
  • Emerging company deal representation, such as for 4DMT, Centrexion, Neurelis, Neumora, Revolution Medicines, various startups out of 8VC and Catalys Pacific Fund, and various portfolio companies of Gurnet Point and B-Flexion

 

Bar Qualification

  • California

Education

  • JD, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, 2003
  • PhD, Stanford University, 1999
  • BA, Northwestern University, 1991

Languages Spoken

  • English