Alex Akhiezer, Ph.D.

Alex Akhiezer is an associate with the firm. His practice focuses on the areas of physics, including optical systems and medical devices, and organic chemistry, including pharmaceuticals. A significant portion of his practice is related to biotechnology, including molecular and biological sensors, bioinformatics and structural biology. Alex also provides advice in the areas of medical devices, material science, such as polymers, and software-implemented algorithms, including molecular modeling.

Alex’s practice emphasizes development, management and licensing of patent portfolios, as well as, early-stage financing due diligence. Additionally, Alex has significant experience in providing opinions of counsel. His opinion work includes infringement and validity assessments of utility patents in the chemical and pharmaceutical arts as well as technologies involving algorithms and computational methods. Alex also advises clients in litigation matters. He is the lead associate in a patent infringement case involving bioreactor liquid sampling systems.

Clients working with Alex benefit from an educational and legal background that is enhanced by more than a decade of scientific research. Prior to joining the firm, Alex was a member of the Protein Chemistry Department at ImClone Systems, Inc. in New York where he participated in various projects directed at developing novel anti-cancer therapeutic strategies, including inhibition of angiogenesis, and site-specific drug delivery systems, such as antibody-drug conjugates. Later, at the Center for Cancer Research at MIT, he worked on the development of novel immunosuppressive compounds to aid in organ transplantation. At the MIT Laboratory for Molecular Science, his research project used novel mathematical tools for the optimization of lead compounds in commercial drug development.

Alex was awarded the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, a 3-year national grant established to provide opportunities for accomplished first-generation Americans who have shown creativity and persistence in achieving leadership in their chosen fields.

Alex’s published research articles include “An Exactly Solvable System of Coupled Non-Linear Schrodinger Equations,” Physics Letters A 182 (1993) 44-48; and “Total Synthesis and Immunosuppressive Activity of Pateamine A and Related Compounds,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120 (1998) 12237-12254. The title of his doctoral thesis is “Optimization of Molecular Shape and Charge in Rational Drug Design.”

Professional Associations

• American Bar Association
• American Intellectual Property Law Association

Bar Admissions

• Massachusetts
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
• U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit