John Mihelcic is a registered patent agent with a Ph.D. in organic chemistry and an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering. John's practice focuses on preparing and prosecuting patent applications relating to OLEDs, semiconductors, small molecule therapeutics, medical devices, and biotechnology. He also has experience conducting a range of diligence searches with chemical structure (STN) and keyword techniques and examining PCT applications to the USPTO. John works to promote intellectual property strategies through dialogue with clients, patent examiners, and foreign IP professionals.
Prior to joining the legal industry, John instructed organic chemistry at colleges in Missouri and Florida. He completed the first enantioselective synthesis of (+)-alliacol A and conducted the total synthesis of hydrocodone and related opioids. He completed post-doctoral studies in the Medicinal Chemistry Department at The University of Kansas and also previously served as a research chemist at pharmaceutical companies across the U.S. John was also a process engineer at Lexmark International leading the production of photoconductors by thin-film coating processes.
Honors & Recognitions
- Chemical & Engineering News, May 2003, featured the natural product synthesis developed during John's graduate thesis research. The synthesis is a 17-step route that was designed and executed solely by John, and achieved the first enantioselective synthesis of (+)-alliacol A.
- Analytical Chemistry Award, American Chemical Society
Thought Leadership
- Co-author, "Synthesis and preliminary evaluation steroidal antiestrogen-geldanamycin conjugates," Hanson, R.N.; Blagg, B.S.J.; Hendricks, J.A.; Mihelcic, J.M.; Amolins, M.A., Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2013, 03, 116
- Co-author, "The Synthesis, and Pharmacological Evaluation of N-(3-(1H-indol-4-yl)-5-(2- methoxyisonicotinoyl) phenyl)methanesulfonamide (LP-261), a Potent Antimitotic Agent," Shetty, R.S.; Lee, Y.; Liu, B.; Husain, A.; Joseph, R.W.; Lu, Y.; Nelson, D.; Mihelcic J.M.; Chao, W.; Moffett, K.K.; Schumacher, A.; Flubacher, D.; Stojanovic, A.; Bukhtiyarova, M.; Williams, K.; Lee, K-J.; Ochman, A.R.; Saporito, M.S.; Moore, W.R.; Flynn, G.A.; Dorsey, B.D.; Springman, E.B.; Fujimoto, T.; Kelly, M.J.; J. Med. Chem., 2011, 54, 178-200
- Author, "Natural Product Synthesis via Anodic Cyclization Reactions: Asymmetric synthesis of (+)- Alliacol A," Thesis Dissertation, Washington University in St. Louis, 2003
- Co-author, "Oxidative Cyclizations: The Asymmetric Synthesis of (-)-Alliacol A", with Kevin D. Moeller, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2004, 126, 9106
- Author, "Alliacol A via anodic cyclization", Science Concentrates, C&E News, 2003, 81:35
- Co-author, "Anodic Cyclization Reactions: The Total Synthesis of Alliacol A", with Kevin D. Moeller, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2003, 125, 36-37
