Director, Intellectual Property

Axsome Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company leading a new era in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) conditions. We deliver scientific breakthroughs by identifying critical gaps in care and develop differentiated products with a focus on novel mechanisms of action that enable meaningful advancements in patient outcomes. Our industry-leading neuroscience portfolio includes FDA-approved treatments for major depressive disorder, agitation associated with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea, and migraine, as well as multiple novel product candidates addressing a broad range of serious neurological and psychiatric conditions that impact over 150 million people in the United States. Together, we are on a mission to solve some of the brain’s biggest problems so patients and their loved ones can flourish. For more information, please visit us at www.axsome.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

About This Role:

Axsome Therapeutics is seeking a Director, Intellectual Property. This role will help build Axsome’s intellectual property portfolio and contribute to its patent and trademark strategies. Successful candidates should have demonstrable skills in evaluating and identifying new discoveries, leading the effort from initial filings to worldwide patent issuance, and supporting R&D efforts. Candidates will have a strong understanding of U.S. and preferably foreign patent systems, including patent filing and prosecution processes. Reporting to Axsome’s VP & Principal Patent Counsel, who reports to the General Counsel, the Director, Intellectual Property, will support a number of key cross-functional projects.    

This role is based at Axsome’s HQ in New York City with an on-site requirement of at least three days per week. We are unable to consider candidates who are looking for fully remote roles.

Job Responsibilities and Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Works closely with external counsel to manage prosecution of a portfolio of patents and trademarks and applications in the U.S. and globally, including patent term extensions, and SPCs.
• Provides legal support, as needed in negotiating, drafting and reviewing licensing, co-promotion, co-development, co-marketing, and clinical trial collaboration agreements.
• Works closely with development teams to monitor results, new uses, new formulations, etc. arising during research and development of products and to manage disclosures and publications of such findings to ensure that all appropriate patentable matter is protected in a timely manner by the filing and prosecution of patent application(s).
• Works closely with teams for pipeline and marketed products, in order to manage/process patent term extensions, Orange Book listings, claims for regulatory exclusivity, as well as ensure that any new patent protections available are obtained for new uses, different results, etc.
• Provides freedom-to-operate (FTO), patentability, and infringement/validity analyses.
• Monitors current developments in several key legal areas and provides Executive Leadership Team with updates regarding same.
• Works with the Principal Patent Counsel to recommend strategic policies and procedures to maximize IP protection in view of new legal and regulatory developments.
• Works with the Principal Patent Counsel to develop IP policy, procedure, and training on IP law and topics.

Requirements/Qualifications

• 5+ years relevant experience.
• JD with admission to practice in at least one state bar; Scientific degree relevant to the life sciences industry; Ph.D./MS a strong plus.
• Registration to practice before the USPTO.
• Ability to work on site Monday, Tuesday & Thursday. We are unable to consider candidates who are looking for fully remote roles

Experience, Knowledge and Skills

• Strong experience supporting small-molecule pharmaceutical or biotechnology products, e.g., prior experience in developing small-molecule patent strategy.
• Drafting patent applications covering inventions such as composition-of-matter, formulations, polymorphs, salts, dosing regimens, and method-of-treatments is a plus.
• Prior law firm and in-house experience at pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology company is a plus.
• Comfort working on cross-functional projects with scientific, clinical, and regulatory colleagues.
• Strong communications skills. 

Salary and Benefits:

The anticipated salary range for this role is $245,000 - $270,000. The salary offer will be based on a variety of factors, including experience, qualifications, internal equity and location. Axsome offers a competitive employment package that includes an annual bonus, significant equity and a generous benefits package.

Axsome is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. 

Axsome Therapeutics does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or third-party recruitment agencies and will not pay placement fees for unsolicited candidates that are sent to hiring managers, the HR team or other Axsome team members. Only approved vendors who have been explicitly asked to support a specific search will receive access to our Applicant Tracking System to submit candidates for consideration.