Head of Intellectual Property
South San Francisco
Legal /
Full-Time /
Hybrid
Lycia Therapeutics is a biotechnology company using its proprietary lysosomal targeting chimera (LYTAC) platform to discover and develop best-in-class therapeutics that degrade extracellular and membrane-bound proteins. These proteins drive a wide range of difficult-to-treat diseases, including autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Lycia was established in 2019 in collaboration with academic founder and Nobel Laureate Carolyn Bertozzi, Ph.D., professor of chemistry and HHMI investigator at Stanford University. In May 2024, Lycia Therapeutics completed a $106.6 million Series C financing to advance its pipeline of LYTAC extracellular protein degraders to the clinic. Lycia is headquartered in South San Francisco.
The Role:
Lycia is seeking an innovative, collaborative and seasoned patent attorney as Head of Intellectual Property. This role will be a Senior Director level and report directly to the CEO, until such time as Lycia grows its legal team and brings in a General Counsel. This role will be a valued member of the leadership team and instrumental in guiding the company’s IP strategy as the company evolves into a clinical stage company
Key Responsibilities:
- Work cross-functionally with management and scientists to provide strategic IP guidance and counsel. In appropriate circumstances, this role may be asked to present to and advise the board and/or board committees.
- Collaborate closely with research and development, and effectively partner with them to identify inventions, draft and prosecute patent applications, and develop and implement IP strategies for Lycia.
- Conduct patentability, freedom-to-operate, and validity and infringement analyses and, working individually and in cross-functional teams, provide business-oriented solutions.
- Provide IP diligence and work closely with cross-functional teams to support business transactions including negotiations, due diligence and drafting and reviewing agreements.
- Oversee Contracts, including managing external counsel and conducting contract negotiations with key external vendors.
- Working effectively with outside counsel and collaborators will be an important part of this role.
- Potential to support other legal activities as appropriate, including licensing and financing transactions.
Requirements:
- 8+ years of experience in therapeutics patent preparation and prosecution, portfolio management, invention harvesting, freedom-to-operate analysis and third-party portfolio assessments, as related to therapeutic drug discovery, research, and clinical trials.
- Facile with proteins, antibodies and conjugates thereof.
- Facile with small molecules (including ligands and linkers) preferred.
- Familiarity with both chemical (small) molecule patents as well as biologic (large) molecule IP is preferred.
- Familiar with both platform and product IP is preferred.
- Admission to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office required, as is an advanced degree in life sciences (PhD preferred).
- U.S. law degree (J.D.) and admission in good standing to any state bar required.
- Prior experience at both a law firm and a biotechnology therapeutics company is strongly preferred.
Additional Attributes
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to work both independently and in cross-functional teams, multitask with ease, and skillfully manage internal and external stakeholders.
- Excellent analytical skills and scientific/technical expertise.
- Ability to adjust to shifting priorities.
- Ability and desire to work in an entrepreneurial, fast-moving environment.
- Good business judgment, ability to give practical advice.
- Strong intellectual curiosity and passion for Lycia’s mission
Why This is a Great Opportunity!
- Lycia’s founder, Professor Carolyn Bertozzi of Stanford University, was awarded the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. She remains actively involved with Lycia, with regularly scheduled meetings.
- Lycia is well funded by leading healthcare investors ($106.6M in Series C, May 2024). Additionally, Lycia is party to a multi-year research collaboration and licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company that provided Lycia with an upfront payment of $35M and continues to drive revenue via over $1.6B in potential milestone payments and tiered royalties.
- This role will have tremendous growth potential, including licensing, team building, and possibly growing into broader legal role over time.
- This role will work closely with business and scientific leadership, and potential to have board exposure.
- Lycia boasts a collaborative and respectful culture. “Lycians” are: Passionate, results driven inventors of medicine; Truth-seekers; Celebrators of our collective genius; Continually striving to be an inclusive community; and Respectful and Humble (not jerks)!
$290,000 - $326,000 a year
The expected base salary range for this role is $290,000-$326,000. We encourage candidates of all levels to apply as there is often flexibility on job title and responsibilities. Compensation will be based on a variety of factors, including experience, qualifications and internal equity. Lycia offers a competitive employment package that includes an annual bonus, equity, and a generous benefits package.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Lycia and other biotech companies have recently noticed an increase in email and social media scams targeting job candidates in our industry. Please note Lycia will post any legitimate job openings directly on our website or through our recruitment partner, Lever. If you wish to verify the legitimacy of a job opening, you may contact us.
