Head of Intellectual Property
Boulder and Waltham
G&A – Legal /
Full-Time /
On-site
Who We Are
Cogent Biosciences is a biotechnology company focused on developing precision therapies for genetically defined diseases. Our most advanced program, bezuclastinib, is a clinical-stage tyrosine kinase inhibitor designed to selectively and potently inhibit the KIT D816V mutation. This mutation is responsible for driving systemic mastocytosis (“SM”), a rare and serious disease caused by unchecked proliferation of mast cells. We are also studying bezuclastinib to treat patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (“GIST”), a type of cancer with strong dependence on oncogenic KIT signaling. Bezuclastinib is currently in three ongoing registrational clinical trials for patients with advanced SM, non-advanced SM and GIST, with top-line results expected for all three trials by the end of 2025. In addition to bezuclastinib, the Cogent Research Team is developing a portfolio of novel targeted therapies to help patients fight serious, genetically driven diseases initially targeting mutations in FGFR2, ErbB2 and PI3Kα.
The Role
We are looking for an experienced IP attorney, either an Executive Director or Vice President level depending on experience, to join our legal team and establish an internal IP function. This position will report to the Chief Legal Officer and has the flexibility to be remote, in office (Waltham, MA or Boulder, CO) or hybrid.
What You Will Do
- Direct and execute IP strategy and establish collaborative and positive working relationships with all functional areas, including R&D, CMC, business development, commercial, and regulatory teams, acting as an advisor on a variety of IP related issues
- Drive our portfolio prosecution and strategy; overseeing and conducting prior art searches, competitive landscape analysis, patentability, validity, non-infringement, and freedom to operate analyses
- Serve as a strategic partner and IP thought leader for the Company in discovery, research, manufacturing, and development on patent, regulatory data exclusivity, trademark, trade secret, commercial launch strategies and other intellectual property issues
- Manage and partner with outside IP counsel, including ownership of IP budget
- Actively mine for patentable inventions by partnering with the Cogent Research Team to continue building a robust intellectual property portfolio
- Develop a thorough understanding of current and planned business activities, programs, competitors, and markets and keep up-to-date on developing legal trends, laws and regulations to inform and adjust IP strategies
- Oversee competitive intelligence monitoring/activity including search, analysis, third party administrative activity and potential prosecution of focused patent claims
- Collaborate on corporate transactions, including due diligence assessments, and advising on contract drafting and negotiation
- Review draft publications, presentations and external disclosures for IP considerations
- Facilitate IP training session for employees to foster a culture of innovation and IP awareness
What You Bring
- J.D. degree from an accredited law school
- Admission to practice before the USPTO and a state bar
- Minimum of 10-15 years of relevant IP experience in the biotech/pharmaceutical industry, including significant law firm and in-house experience
- Advanced degree in chemistry strongly desired
- Experienced, hands-on professional ready to embrace the challenge of establishing an internal IP function
- Proven track record of managing IP portfolios and developing IP strategies in a biotech or pharmaceutical company
- Direct experience in small molecule patent prosecution, patent portfolio development and management, and managing products from discovery through development, marketing approval and post-approval preferred
- Must be comfortable participating in all aspects of intellectual property law including FTO, non-infringement, and invalidity analyses, IP due diligence, contract IP terms, and licensing negotiations
$238,000 - $350,000 a year
Range will commiserate with experience
