Andrei Iancu

January 29, 2021

Andrei Iancu was under secretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, a position to which he was confirmed unanimously by the Senate. In this role, Mr. Iancu led an agency with approximately 13,000 employees and an annual budget of over $3.5 billion. He was also the principal adviser in the administration on domestic and international intellectual property (IP) policy matters. Mr. Iancu is now a partner at Irell & Manella, where he represents clients on IP matters. He also co-founded earlier this year the Renewing American Innovation Project at the bipartisan Center for Strategic and International Studies. Mr. Iancu has also taught patent law at the UCLA School of Law. Earlier in his career, he was an engineer at Hughes Aircraft Company.

Securing the Future of the U.S. Biopharmaceutical Industry: The Most-Favored-Nation Paradox

February 5, 2026

By Sujai Shivakumar and Anne Pritchett The Trump administration is pursuing lowering prescription drug costs primarily to end what it describes as “global freeloading” and to ensure U.S. patients pay prices comparable to those in other developed nations. The administration argues that while the United States represents less than 5 percent

Universities, Patents, and the Future of U.S. Competitiveness

December 15, 2025

By Shruti Sharma and Chris Borges Universities are among the most powerful engines of U.S. innovation, transforming federal research investments into scientific discoveries that underpin economic growth, technological leadership, and national security. Current law, via the Bayh-Dole Act, allows universities to patent inventions and license them to private companies, with royalties

How Counterfeit Drugs Threaten U.S. Health and Innovation

November 19, 2025

By Anne Pritchett According to the Department of Homeland Security, counterfeit drugs “threaten national security and public safety directly when introduced into government and critical infrastructure supply chains, and indirectly if used to generate revenue for transnational criminal organizations.” Furthermore, counterfeit drugs harm pharmaceutical innovation by eroding profitability and investor