Walker R. Force, PhD

Walker offers substantial experience in US and foreign patent law

Walker R. Force, PhD, is a registered patent agent with more than 15 years of experience drafting and prosecuting patents, supporting litigation efforts, and rendering validity and freedom to operate opinions. In addition, Walker has more than 15 years of scientific research experience, both directing and conducting research projects in the pharmaceutical industry. Walker specializes in pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and medical treatments with expertise in molecular biology, gene editing, genomics, nucleic acid therapeutics, protein-based biologics including monoclonal binding agents, immune therapies such as CAR T-cells, and stem cells.

Prior to joining our team, Walker worked as a patent agent at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati, and Grant Anderson. Walker also worked as an in-house patent agent at Invitae Corp. and EMD Millipore. Before starting his legal career, Walker was a director of research at Meyer Pharmaceuticals, a director and senior research scientist at Kyowa Hakko Kirin (formerly Gemini Science), and a senior research scientist at La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology. Walker is also an inventor listed on several US and International patent applications. He completed a BS in Biology from California State University, Fullerton, and earned a PhD in Biochemistry from University of California, Riverside.

Select Publications

Force, W.R., Takahashi, N., Hitoshi, Y., Xingjie, C., Mikayama, T. 2007. "Anti-CD40 Monoclonal Antibodies,” US Patent No. 7,193,064, filed April 27, 2001, and issued March 20, 2007.

“Discrete Signaling Regions in the Lymphotoxin-beta Receptor for Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-associated Factor Binding, Subcellular Localization, and Activation of Cell Death and NF-kappaB Pathways,” Journal of Biological Chemistry, 275(15), 11121-9, April 14, 2000 (coauthor).

“Dominant Negative Mutants of TRAF3 Reveal an Important Role for the Coiled Coil Domains in Cell Death Signaling by the Lymphotoxin-β Receptor (LTβR),” Journal of Biological Chemistry, 272(49), 30835-40, December 5, 1997 (coauthor).

“Lymphotoxin β. Ch.7,” In Human Cytokines III Boston, MA: Blackwell Science, 1997 (coauthor).

“Lymphotoxin-β Receptor: Role of Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-associated Factor 3 Recruitment in Cell Death and Activation of Nuclear Factor kB,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 94, 2460-65, March 18, 1997 (coauthor).

“Mouse Lymphotoxin-β Receptor: Molecular genetics, Ligand Binding and Expression,” Journal of Immunology, 155, 5280-88, December 1, 1995 (coauthor).

“Cell-autonomous Fas (CD95)/Fas-ligand Interaction Mediates Activation-induced Apoptosis in T-cell Hybridomas,” Nature, 373, 441-444, February 2, 1995 (coauthor).

“3,5,3'-L-triiodothyronine (thyroid hormone)-induced Protein-DNA Interactions in the Thyroid Hormone Response Elements and Cell Type-specific Elements of the Rat Growth Hormone Gene Revealed by In Vivo Dimethyl Dulfate Footprinting,” Journal of Biological Chemistry, 269, 9682-86, April 1, 1994. (coauthor).