Alembic Pharmaceuticals is seeking Medicinal Chemistry Lead to spearhead our small-molecule and peptide drug discovery programs. High-impact leadership role with end-to-end responsibility—from target ideation to clinical candidate nomination—shaping Alembic’s next-generation therapeutic pipeline.
Alembic Pharmaceuticals – IP Lead – Details
- Post: Intellectual Property Scientist / IP Lead – Drug Discovery
- Location: Vadodara, India | Full-time | On-site
- Reporting to: Head – IP Department
- Compensation: Commensurate with experience
About The Role
Alembic Pharmaceuticals is seeking experienced and strategically minded Intellectual Property (IP) Scientist to build and strengthen organization’s discovery-focused intellectual property capability. Role will work closely with Medicinal Chemistry, Biology, DMPK, Translational Sciences, and external patent counsel to identify, protect, and maximize value of innovations emerging from drug discovery and development programs.
The ideal candidate combines deep scientific understanding of pharmaceutical research with strong expertise in patent drafting, claim strategy, novelty/patentability assessment, freedom-to-operate analysis, and lifecycle management.
Key Responsibilities
1) IP Strategy & Patentability Assessment
- Conduct novelty, patentability, and prior-art searches using scientific and patent databases
- Evaluate inventions arising from discovery programs including compounds, formulations, biologics, targets, technologies
- Assess patentability, inventive step, industrial applicability, and associated risks
- Prepare invention assessments, novelty reports, strategic filing recommendations
- Review ELNs, scientific reports, SAR data, biological evaluation reports to develop complete patent specifications
- Collaborate with project teams to identify and protect innovative research outcomes
2) Patent Drafting & Prosecution Support
- Draft and review pharma patent applications, specifications, and claim sets
- Develop robust claim strategies including composition of matter, formulations, processes, polymorphs, salts, metabolites, intermediates, therapeutic use claims
- Prepare broad Markush claims and appropriate fallback positions to maximize protection
- Work with external patent attorneys on filings, prosecution, office action responses, oppositions, global portfolio management
- Support inventors in generating scientific data necessary for strong patent filings
3) Freedom-to-Operate & Competitive Intelligence
- Perform FTO assessments for discovery and development programs
- Identify patent barriers, infringement risks, third-party rights
- Recommend design-around options and risk mitigation strategies
- Conduct patent landscape analyses and monitor competitor activities
4) Lifecycle Management & Portfolio Development
- Identify IP opportunities related to drug repurposing, new indications, differentiated formulations, FDCs, dosage regimens
- Support lifecycle management and differentiated product strategies including 505(b)(2) strategies
- Manage patent portfolios across multiple jurisdictions, monitor prosecution activities, deadlines, grants, annuities
- Recommend continuation, divisional, follow-on, and lifecycle extension strategies
- Utilize AI-enabled patent analytics and digital tools
Qualifications & Experience
- Essential: M.Sc. (Organic Chemistry / Medicinal Chemistry), M.Pharm (Medicinal Chemistry) or related discipline with 7-12 years relevant experience in pharma IP, patent drafting, patent analytics, or drug discovery support
- Must Have: Postgraduate qualification in Patent Law, IPR, or IP Management is a must
- Desirable: Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Biology
- Demonstrated experience in pharma patent drafting and Markush claim preparation
- Strong understanding of drug discovery workflows, medicinal chemistry, SAR, product development
- Experience in patentability assessments, FTO evaluations, patent landscaping, portfolio management
- Exposure to drug repurposing, differentiated product development, 505(b)2 pathways
Technical Competencies & Databases
- Patent drafting, claim strategy, FTO, landscape analysis, portfolio management, SAR interpretation
- Hands-on: SciFinder, STN, Reaxys, Orbit Intelligence or similar platforms
- AI-enabled patent research and analytics tools
How To Apply
Apply / Refer: drugdiscoverycareer@alembic.co.in
Location: Vadodara, On-site Full-time
Tags: Alembic Pharma IP Scientist Jobs Vadodara, IP Lead Drug Discovery 7-12 Years, Msc MPharm Medicinal Chemistry Patent Law IPR, Markush Claims FTO Patentability, SciFinder STN Reaxys Orbit, 505b2 Lifecycle Management, drugdiscoverycareer@alembic.co.in
