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Pharmaceutical Patent Jobs (NOW HIRING)

AbbVie

Associate General Counsel, Patent Prosecution

Waltham, MA · On-site

$182K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This position will support AbbVie's pharmaceutical products and be based in our offices in North ... Challenge and defend patents in IPR, opposition, interference, and other post-grant proceedings

Allergan

Associate General Counsel, Patent Prosecution

Waltham, MA · On-site

$180 - $260/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This position will support AbbVie's pharmaceutical products and be based in our offices in North ... Challenge and defend patents in IPR, opposition, interference, and other post-grant proceedings

New

Allergan

Associate General Counsel, Patent Prosecution

Irvine, CA · On-site

$180 - $260/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This position will support AbbVie's pharmaceutical products and be based in our offices in North ... Challenge and defend patents in IPR, opposition, interference, and other post-grant proceedings

New

AbbVie

Associate General Counsel, Patent Prosecution

Irvine, CA · On-site

$182K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This position will support AbbVie's pharmaceutical products and be based in our offices in North ... Challenge and defend patents in IPR, opposition, interference, and other post-grant proceedings

AbbVie

Senior Counsel-Patent

Waltham, MA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This position will support AbbVie's immunology pharmaceutical products and be based in our offices ... Challenge and defend patents in IPR, opposition, interference, and other post-grant proceedings

AbbVie

Senior Counsel-Patent

Waltham, MA · On-site

$160K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This position will support AbbVie's immunology pharmaceutical products and be based in our offices ... Challenge and defend patents in IPR, opposition, interference, and other post-grant proceedings

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Showing results 21-40

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Pharmaceutical Patent information

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$60K

$122.7K

$153.5K

How much do pharmaceutical patent jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for pharmaceutical patent in the United States is $122,735.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $87,000.00 and $152,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a pharmaceutical patent attorney?

To thrive as a Pharmaceutical Patent Attorney, you need a strong background in chemistry, biology, or pharmacy, a law degree, and admission to the patent bar. Familiarity with patent databases, intellectual property (IP) management systems, and patent filing software is essential, along with certifications such as a registered patent attorney status. Analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are soft skills that distinguish top performers in this specialty. These skills ensure accurate patent protection, effective client representation, and successful navigation of complex pharmaceutical regulations.

What challenges do pharmaceutical patent professionals face when working with cross-functional teams during drug development?

Pharmaceutical patent professionals often collaborate closely with R&D, regulatory, and legal teams, which can present challenges such as aligning patent strategies with scientific advancements and regulatory requirements. Effective communication is crucial to ensure that the timing of patent filings aligns with clinical milestones and product launches. Navigating complex scientific data and translating it into robust patent claims requires both technical expertise and legal acumen. Building strong relationships with team members from various disciplines helps ensure that intellectual property is adequately protected throughout the drug development process.

What is a pharmaceutical patent?

Pharmaceutical patents are legal protections granted to inventors of new drugs, formulations, or processes in the pharmaceutical industry. They give the patent holder exclusive rights to manufacture, use, and sell the invention for a certain period, typically 20 years from the filing date. This exclusivity helps companies recoup research and development costs and encourages innovation, but after the patent expires, generic versions can be produced by other manufacturers. Pharmaceutical patents play a critical role in balancing innovation incentives with public access to medicines.

What is the difference between Pharmaceutical Patent vs Pharmaceutical Patent Agent?

AspectPharmaceutical PatentPharmaceutical Patent Agent
CredentialsPatent attorneys or agents, often with a law degree and technical backgroundRegistered patent agents with technical degrees, often with patent law training
Work EnvironmentLaw firms, corporate legal departments, patent officesPatent law firms, corporate legal teams, patent offices
Primary FocusSecuring patent rights for pharmaceutical inventionsPreparing, filing, and prosecuting patent applications in pharmaceuticals

While both roles involve protecting pharmaceutical innovations, a Pharmaceutical Patent typically refers to the legal process of securing patent rights, often handled by patent attorneys or agents. A Pharmaceutical Patent Agent specifically focuses on drafting and prosecuting patent applications, requiring specialized patent law credentials. Both roles are essential in the pharmaceutical industry for safeguarding intellectual property.

More about Pharmaceutical Patent jobs

What cities are hiring for Pharmaceutical Patent jobs?

Cities with the most Pharmaceutical Patent job openings:

What states have the most Pharmaceutical Patent jobs?

States with the most job openings for Pharmaceutical Patent jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Pharmaceutical Patent jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Pharmaceutical Patent jobs are:

Pharmaceutical Patent jobs near you
Infographic showing various Pharmaceutical Patent job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $122,735 per year, or $59 per hour.

Associate General Counsel, Patent Prosecution

AbbVie

North Chicago, IL • On-site

$182K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 8 days ago

AbbVie rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 101 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

16th of 86 rated pharmaceutical

Job description

Company Description
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
AbbVie is searching for an in-house Associate General Counsel for our Patent Prosecution group, part of AbbVie's Intellectual Property, Transactions, and Innovation legal team. This position will support AbbVie's pharmaceutical products and be based in our offices in North Chicago, IL, Waltham, MA, South San Francisco, CA, or Irvine, CA with a hybrid work model (on site 3+ days/week).
Acting individually and in cross-functional teams, the Associate General Counsel will develop and implement intellectual property strategies for AbbVie's products and product candidates, with a focus on neuroscience.
Responsibilities:
  • Maximize AbbVie's competitive position through creation and implementation of intellectual property strategies
  • Provide legal advice and counsel to cross-functional R&D and business teams on a variety of IP-related matters
  • Draft, file, and prosecute strategically useful patent applications worldwide both directly and through management of outside counsel
  • Challenge and defend patents in IPR, opposition, interference, and other post-grant proceedings
  • Conduct prior art searches, analyze third-party patent positions, and conduct due diligence to support business development activities

Qualifications
  • JD degree from an accredited law school, state bar admission enabling in-house practice (specific state not required), and registration to practice before the USPTO
  • 8+ years of experience practicing patent law as an attorney or patent agent at a law firm and/or life sciences company, including substantial U.S. and foreign patent prosecution
    • Experience with India, China, and emerging markets a plus
  • Technical background relevant for pharmaceutical patent prosecution, such as:
    • Experience with small molecule and/or biological pharmaceutical discovery & development, and/or
    • Technical degree in relevant field, such as molecular biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, or biomedical engineering
  • Strong legal, analytical, communication, collaboration, and people skills
  • Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects to meet deadlines

Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
  • The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
  • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
  • This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company's sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html

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About AbbVie

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health, and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Industry

Scientific research and development services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

North Chicago, IL, US

Year founded

2013

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