About Us

Tomas Friend, Ph.D.

has been a patent agent registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) since 2003. Before working as a patent agent representing inventors, he worked as a patent examiner for the USPTO where he examined applications for patents in the combinatorial arts (combinatorial libraries of chemicals and biologicals, and methods for making and screening them). Having experience as both an examiner and an agent provides a valuable perspective that helps streamline prosecution, saving time and money.

Before working with patents, Dr. Friend was a biochemical research scientist and university/pharmacy school professor. Research training and experience helps him grasp complex inventions more quickly and understand how they are distinct from prior art. Training and experience as a teacher helps him write coherent and concise patent applications as well as to explain inventions, and what makes them novel, to patent examiners.

Member: National Association of Patent Practitioners >>
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Helene Friend, Pharm.D.

is a registered pharmacist, licensed to practice in Alabama and Virginia in the U.S. and in British Columbia, Canada. Her pharmacy training and experience is valuable to clients with inventions related to pharmaceuticals and nutrition. Before working as a pharmacist, Dr. Friend conducted and managed research at a large preclinical testing laboratory in support of New Drug Applications (NDAs). Her experience with Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Study Protocols is particularly useful for inventions related to method and apparatus for drug development, screening, testing, and approval.

Member: National Association of Patent Practitioners >>