Wilfully Blind! What are the trade secrets skeletons in the M&A cupboard?

What risks? Are you buying into trade secrets liability?

Arcturus Therapeutics vs. AbbVie September 2025, claims AbbVie bought stolen trade secrets in their acquisition of Capstan Therapeutics.

That former Arcturus employees joined Capstan and took valuable proprietary mRNA and delivery platform trade secrets across with them, which were later used to file patents.

A complex web?

Why did Arcturus not sue Capstan? Is there a bigger target at AbbVie?

Biotech and other IP intensive industries highlight the risks associated with employee mobility.

How do you mitigate trade secrets risk in a competitive hiring scenario?

Robust trade secret management

Contracts, training and marking trade secrets

Access control

Clean-room protocols during hiring

What trade secrets due diligence might you apply at M&A?

#TradeSecrets #BiotechLitigation #AbbVie #Adcentrx #ADC #IPStrategy #InnovationRisk #SMEAdvisory