Alembic Pharmaceuticals is seeking Medicinal Chemistry Lead to spearhead our small-molecule and peptide drug discovery programs. This is a high-impact leadership role with end-to-end responsibility—from target ideation to clinical candidate nomination—shaping Alembic’s next- generation therapeutic pipeline.
Post : Intellectual Property Scientist / IP Lead - Drug Discovery
About the Role
Alembic Pharmaceuticals is seeking an experienced and strategically minded Intellectual Property (IP) Scientist to build and strengthen the organization's discovery-focused intellectual property capability. This role will work closely with Medicinal Chemistry, Biology, DMPK, Translational Sciences, and external patent counsel to identify, protect, and maximize the 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. The individual will play a critical role in transforming scientific discoveries into robust intellectual property assets that support Alembic's long-term innovation and portfolio growth objectives.
This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to discovery programs in India while actively bridging into the U.S. biotech ecosystem, collaborating with global scientific partners to help deliver transformational medicines. In this position, you will not only shape the intellectual property strategy of innovative therapeutic programs but also work at the intersection of science, innovation, and business to create sustainable competitive advantage.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Patentability and drafting :
• Run novelty, patentability and prior-art searches for NCEs, biologics, scaffolds and targets
• Review ELNs, SAR and biology data to draft Indian and PCT specifications with broad Markush claims and fallbacks
• Cover composition, intermediates, processes, salts, polymorphs, combinations, use claims and biologics claims
• Coordinate US, EP and Indian prosecution, office actions and oppositions with external counsel
FTO and competitive intelligence
• Perform FTO assessments and recommend design-arounds
• Produce landscape reports for targets and chemical series; track competitor filings
Disease-area strategy and 505(b)(2)
• Build IP strategy per disease area, from target to NCE to clinical candidate
• Protect use, indication, dosing and combination claims
• Support 505(b)(2) strategy: differentiated products (new indications, formulations,
• fixed-dose combinations, delivery), reference product patents and exclusivities.
• Identify repurposing and new-indication opportunities
Portfolio management
• Manage the docket across jurisdictions: deadlines, prosecution, grants, annuities
• Advise on continuation, divisional and follow-on filings
• Use AI-enabled patent analytics tools
• Participate in team meetings and follows entire program to actively evaluate the IP position
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Desirable Qualifications: -
• M.Sc. (Organic/Medicinal Chemistry), M.Pharm. (Medicinal Chemistry) or related
• 5–10 years in pharmaceutical IP for drug discovery
• Hands-on NCE drafting, including Markush, process and combination claims
• Patentability, FTO and landscape experience for NCE programs
• Independently drafted and filed at least 2–3 complete patents
• Working knowledge of 505(b)(2) and related patent and exclusivity issues
• Holistic view of drug discovery, from target selection and SAR to DMPK and early
• clinical, tied to disease area
• Registered Indian Patent Agent, or postgraduate qualification in Patent Law, IPR or IP Management
Desirable Qualifications: -
• Both agent registration and a postgraduate IP qualification
• Ph.D. in Medicinal/Organic Chemistry or Chemical Biology
• Oncology or other therapeutic-area experience
• US and EP prosecution coordination
• Biologics patent experience; repurposing and differentiated-formulation filings
Skills and Tools: -
• Claim strategy, FTO, landscaping, competitive intelligence, portfolio management
• SAR interpretation and scientific literature analysis
• SciFinder, STN, Reaxys, Orbit or similar; ChemDraw or equivalent
• AI-enabled patent research tools
Preferred Profile: - Sees the whole path from disease biology to NCE to differentiated product, turns science into broad, defensible claims, and works independently and with multidisciplinary teams.
Location: Vadodara, India | Full-time | On-site
Reporting to: Head – IP Department
Title and compensation are commensurate with experience
Apply / Refer : drugdiscoverycareer@alembic.co.in
See All B.Pharm Alerts M.Pharm Alerts M.Sc Alerts Ph.D Alerts
See All Other Jobs in our Database
Subscribe to Pharmatutor Job Alerts by Email
