Matt Duffey assists the firm in patent prosecution in the areas of pharmaceuticals, polymeric compositions, and materials chemistry. Matt draws on his extensive technological background in organic and medicinal chemistry, including reaction methods development, natural product synthesis, and small molecule drug discovery.

Prior to joining the firm, Matt worked as a patent agent at Michael Best & Friedrich in Chicago. He was also a medicinal chemist in the oncology drug discovery group at Millennium Pharmaceuticals (now Takeda Pharmaceuticals) where his work focused on all aspects of small molecule drug discovery.

Matt obtained his PhD in organic chemistry from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill where his research focused on asymmetric catalysis and natural product synthesis. From there, he continued research in organic synthesis as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania.

Matt has coauthored numerous scientific publications and is a co-inventor on at least 5 granted US patents with additional applications pending.

  • American Chemical Society
  • NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania
  • Burroughs-Wellcome Fellowship, University of North Carolina
  • Phi Beta Kappa


Scientific Publications

“Discovery of a potent and orally bioavailable benzolactam-derived inhibitor of Polo-Like Kinase 1 (MLN0905).” J. Med. Chem. 2012, 55, 197.

“MLN0905, a small-molecule PLK1 inhibitor, induces antitumor responses in human models of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.” Mol. Cancer Ther. 2012, 11, 2045.

“Design and optimization of potent and orally bioavailable tetrahydronaphthalene Raf inhibitors.” J. Med. Chem. 2011, 54, 1836.

“Discovery and optimization of pyrazoline compounds as B-Raf inhibitors.” Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2010, 20, 4800. 

“Discovery and optimization of N-acyl and N-aroylpyrazolines as B-Raf kinase inhibitors.” Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2010, 20, 4795.

“Total syntheses of the assigned structures of Lituarines B and C.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 422. 

“Diversity-Oriented synthesis of polyketide natural products via iterative chemo- and stereoselective functionalization of polyenoates: development of a unified approach for the C(1-19) segments of Lituarines A-C” Org. Lett. 2005, 7, 139.

“Bifunctional molecular linchpins: A three-component coupling protocol employing 2-bromoallyltrimethylsilane.” Synlett 2004, 16, 1363.

“Enantioselective synthesis of Borrelidin.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 1459.

“Enantio- and diastereoselective reductive aldol reactions with iridium-Pybox catalysts.” Org. Lett. 2001, 3, 1829.

“Rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective reductive aldol reaction.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 4528.

“Simple metal alkoxides as effective catalysts for the hetero-aldol-Tishchenko reaction.” Org. Lett. 1999, 1, 1427.


Expand All

Matt Duffey assists the firm in patent prosecution in the areas of pharmaceuticals, polymeric compositions, and materials chemistry. Matt draws on his extensive technological background in organic and medicinal chemistry, including reaction methods development, natural product synthesis, and small molecule drug discovery.

Prior to joining the firm, Matt worked as a patent agent at Michael Best & Friedrich in Chicago. He was also a medicinal chemist in the oncology drug discovery group at Millennium Pharmaceuticals (now Takeda Pharmaceuticals) where his work focused on all aspects of small molecule drug discovery.

Matt obtained his PhD in organic chemistry from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill where his research focused on asymmetric catalysis and natural product synthesis. From there, he continued research in organic synthesis as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania.

Matt has coauthored numerous scientific publications and is a co-inventor on at least 5 granted US patents with additional applications pending.

  • American Chemical Society
  • NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania
  • Burroughs-Wellcome Fellowship, University of North Carolina
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Scientific Publications

“Discovery of a potent and orally bioavailable benzolactam-derived inhibitor of Polo-Like Kinase 1 (MLN0905).” J. Med. Chem. 2012, 55, 197.

“MLN0905, a small-molecule PLK1 inhibitor, induces antitumor responses in human models of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.” Mol. Cancer Ther. 2012, 11, 2045.

“Design and optimization of potent and orally bioavailable tetrahydronaphthalene Raf inhibitors.” J. Med. Chem. 2011, 54, 1836.

“Discovery and optimization of pyrazoline compounds as B-Raf inhibitors.” Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2010, 20, 4800. 

“Discovery and optimization of N-acyl and N-aroylpyrazolines as B-Raf kinase inhibitors.” Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2010, 20, 4795.

“Total syntheses of the assigned structures of Lituarines B and C.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 422. 

“Diversity-Oriented synthesis of polyketide natural products via iterative chemo- and stereoselective functionalization of polyenoates: development of a unified approach for the C(1-19) segments of Lituarines A-C” Org. Lett. 2005, 7, 139.

“Bifunctional molecular linchpins: A three-component coupling protocol employing 2-bromoallyltrimethylsilane.” Synlett 2004, 16, 1363.

“Enantioselective synthesis of Borrelidin.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 1459.

“Enantio- and diastereoselective reductive aldol reactions with iridium-Pybox catalysts.” Org. Lett. 2001, 3, 1829.

“Rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective reductive aldol reaction.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 4528.

“Simple metal alkoxides as effective catalysts for the hetero-aldol-Tishchenko reaction.” Org. Lett. 1999, 1, 1427.