VPR Brands Retains Top Patent Firm for Key E-Cigarette Patent Commercialization

VPR Brands, LP has retained McAndrews, Held & Malloy, Ltd. as lead patent counsel for the commercialization and enforcement of US Patent No. 8,205,622 B2, a key patent covering auto-draw electronic cigarette technology. The firm, involved in intellectual property transactions exceeding $15 billion over five years and ranked by IAM Patent 1000, will oversee all aspects of the patent program. Senior partner Matthew McAndrews, with extensive litigation and appellate experience including before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, has been appointed lead counsel.

The ‘622 patent covers draw-activated sensing architectures in buttonless auto-draw devices and expires around July 2030. This technology is broadly relevant to closed-system electronic nicotine delivery systems products authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under the Premarket Tobacco Product Application process. VPR Brands has previously licensed the patent to over 17 parties across the supply chain, including major brands with FDA authorization. The patent has survived two inter partes review challenges at the USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board, with claims remaining intact.

McAndrews, Held & Malloy will manage patent evaluation, strategic portfolio assessment, commercialization planning, licensing negotiations, and enforcement proceedings. This includes potential patent acquisition, exclusive licensing, joint commercialization arrangements, and litigation in federal district courts and before the United States International Trade Commission under Section 337. The firm also provides IP due diligence and merger and acquisition support for transactions involving the patent. The electronic nicotine delivery systems industry is experiencing active patent enforcement, with multiple ITC proceedings involving major participants.

Kevin Frija, Chief Executive Officer of VPR Brands, stated the engagement positions the company to execute a structured program for the foundational technology patent. The firm’s credentials include a dedicated FDA regulatory IP practice covering patent term extensions and PMTA-related patent analysis, directly relevant to the sector. VPR Brands emphasizes it remains open to commercially reasonable resolutions with industry participants while advancing its licensing program through appropriate channels.