Senior Director, IP Counsel

About Formation Bio

Formation Bio is a tech and AI driven pharma company differentiated by radically more efficient drug development. 

Advancements in AI and drug discovery are creating more candidate drugs than the industry can progress because of the high cost and time of clinical trials. Recognizing that this development bottleneck may ultimately limit the number of new medicines that can reach patients, Formation Bio, founded in 2016 as TrialSpark Inc., has built technology platforms, processes, and capabilities to accelerate all aspects of drug development and clinical trials. Formation Bio partners, acquires, or in-licenses drugs from pharma companies, research organizations, and biotechs to develop programs past clinical proof of concept and beyond, ultimately helping to bring new medicines to patients. The company is backed by investors across pharma and tech, including a16z, Sequoia, Sanofi, Thrive Capital, Sam Altman, John Doerr, Spark Capital, SV Angel Growth, and others. 

You can read more at the following links:

• Our Vision for AI in Pharma
• Our Current Drug Portfolio
• Our Technology & Platform

At Formation Bio, our values are the driving force behind our mission to revolutionize the pharma industry. Every team and individual at the company shares these same values, and every team and individual plays a key part in our mission to bring new treatments to patients faster and more efficiently.

About the Position

From its roots as a clinical development company, Formation Bio is harnessing the power of deep learning and artificial intelligence to break clinical development paradigms and transform how drugs and biologics are developed. We are acquiring and developing a portfolio of clinical-stage assets and looking for an IP leader who shares our vision and energy to protect, enhance, and maximize the value of these innovations throughout their entire lifecycle - from initial diligence through clinical development and eventual partnering or sale. Our preference is for a NYC-based or Boston-based attorney who can sit in our office (we are hybrid in-office).

​​You'll be principally in charge of our patent and IP portfolio, where you will work closely with our business development, legal, clinical, CMC, and data/engineering teams to on-board products with strong IP potential, and thereafter coordinate patent and regulatory activities to deliver best-in-class IP positions. We expect this person to create and influence strategy, assist with deal and portfolio decisions, and directly impact whether our company succeeds.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute IP strategies that maximize asset value from in-licensing through exit
• Lead IP due diligence for pharmaceutical and biologic acquisitions, identifying both risks and hidden value in complex pharma/biotech transactions
• Build IP portfolios during clinical development that strengthen our competitive position and considering potential asset exit opportunities
• Drive IP strategy and negotiation in complex pharma/biotech transactions, including working closely with our dealmakers on items like strength and longevity of IP protection
• Manage relationships with outside IP law firms
• Navigate formulation findings, method of use patents, lifecycle management strategies, process-related discoveries and labeling-related IP issues
• Oversee trademark, trade secret, and data exclusivity strategies
• Advise on IP issues to multidisciplinary scientific and engineering teams, including ML/data scientists and with respect to our AI product features
• Comfortable working cross functionally, including partnering with clinical and CMC teams to identify patentable innovations during development, collaborating with BD to position IP assets for maximum strategic value, and collaborating with our AI/tech teams as we build out our in-house technology platforms

About You

You're an experienced IP attorney (JD required, active bar membership preferred) who thrives on autonomy, strategic thinking and new challenges. You've spent 10-15+ years in pharmaceutical IP, ideally with experience at both law firms and in-house at pharma companies. Ideal candidates would think about intellectual property from both a protection and value creation lens. This role will initially report to the General Counsel, but will include extensive cross functional work with business, operations, and clinical/CMC teams and could grow to include management of other attorneys.

Essential Experience:

• Deep expertise in pharma/biologics IP lifecycle management, from early development through commercialization
• Proven track record managing IP for Phase 1 and Phase 2+ clinical programs
• Experience with both in-licensing and out-licensing transactions
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple law firms / global patent portfolios
• Experience drafting claims and prosecuting patents (with experience litigating / disputing patents as a bonus) 
• Strong understanding of regulatory exclusivities and competitive intelligence
• Ability to operate independently from day one while building strong internal relationships

What Sets You Apart:

• Experience with Chinese or JPAC pharmaceutical partnerships and transactions
• Experience with preclinical assets, such as IND enabling studies
• Track record of preparing assets for successful exits or partnerships
• Comfort with AI and modern legal technology tools
• Scientific background and familiarity beyond pure legal experience

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience working with Chinese pharmaceutical or biotech companies, or a background involving partnerships with Asian markets
• Prior experience in both law firm settings and in-house roles, evidencing a balanced perspective on deadline-driven and autonomous work environments

Why Join Us?

• Impact: Shape IP strategy as our senior legal leader for a portfolio of clinical assets with real potential to help patients
• Ownership: Build the IP legal function with high autonomy and strategic influence
• Innovation: Work at the intersection of AI and pharma, defining new approaches to IP protection
• Culture: Collaborate with a team that values speed, innovation, and results over process

Formation Bio is prioritizing hiring in key hubs, primarily the New York City and Boston metro areas, with additional growth in the Research Triangle (NC) and San Francisco Bay Area. Please only apply if you reside in these locations or are willing to relocate.

Compensation:

The target salary range for this role is: $275,000 - $350,000.

Salary ranges are informed by a number of factors including geographic location. The range provided includes base salary only. In addition to base salary, we offer equity, comprehensive benefits, generous perks, hybrid flexibility, and more. If this range doesn't match your expectations, please still apply because we may have something else for you. 

You will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

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