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Jim Malecha
Patent Counselor
Patents and Innovations
San Diego
jmalecha@wsgr.com

D858-350-2219

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Dr. James Malecha is a patent counselor in the San Diego office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he assists with the preparation and prosecution of patent applications in the fields of chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. He also provides support on various intellectual property counseling matters.

Prior to joining the firm, Jim led medicinal chemistry groups at Kalypsys and Searle/Pharmacia. At Kalypsys, Jim directed research programs in a number of therapeutic areas, including metabolic disease, oncology, and arthritis and inflammation. He also managed the Kalypsys chemical development team and coordinated chemical outsourcing activities. At Searle/Pharmacia, Jim worked for 12 years as a group and project leader. He was a member of the COX-2 project team responsible for the discovery of Celebrex.

Jim is a co-inventor of numerous clinical candidates and two marketed products, Celebrex and Trocoxil. While in graduate school, he studied the total synthesis of a marine sponge metabolite and developed new synthetic methodologies. Jim has co-authored 15 scientific papers and is a co-inventor on 39 U.S. patents.

Experience

Dr. James Malecha is a patent counselor in the San Diego office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he assists with the preparation and prosecution of patent applications in the fields of chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. He also provides support on various intellectual property counseling matters.

Prior to joining the firm, Jim led medicinal chemistry groups at Kalypsys and Searle/Pharmacia. At Kalypsys, Jim directed research programs in a number of therapeutic areas, including metabolic disease, oncology, and arthritis and inflammation. He also managed the Kalypsys chemical development team and coordinated chemical outsourcing activities. At Searle/Pharmacia, Jim worked for 12 years as a group and project leader. He was a member of the COX-2 project team responsible for the discovery of Celebrex.

Jim is a co-inventor of numerous clinical candidates and two marketed products, Celebrex and Trocoxil. While in graduate school, he studied the total synthesis of a marine sponge metabolite and developed new synthetic methodologies. Jim has co-authored 15 scientific papers and is a co-inventor on 39 U.S. patents.

Education
  • Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, Northwestern UniversityThesis: "Studies Directed Towards the Total Synthesis of Calyculin A"
  • B.S., Organic Chemistry, Butler University
Admissions
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Credentials
Education
  • Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, Northwestern UniversityThesis: "Studies Directed Towards the Total Synthesis of Calyculin A"
  • B.S., Organic Chemistry, Butler University
Admissions
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Therapeutics and Drug Discovery

  • Small molecule synthesis
  • Small molecules

Chemistry and Material Science

  • Chemical synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Organic chemistry
  • Process chemistry
Technical Fluency

Therapeutics and Drug Discovery

  • Small molecule synthesis
  • Small molecules

Chemistry and Material Science

  • Chemical synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Organic chemistry
  • Process chemistry
Focus Areas
  • Intellectual Property
  • Life Sciences
  • Patents and Innovations
Recent Insights
Client Highlights
Wilson Sonsini Advises Odyssey Therapeutics on Patent Matters Related to IPO
On May 7, 2026, Odyssey Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company seeking to transform the standard of care for patients suffering from autoimmune and inflammatory diseases by developing medicines that are designed to precisely target disease pathology, announced the pricing of its upsized initial public offering of 15,500,000 shares of its common stock at an initial public offering price of $18.00 per share. In addition, Odyssey has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,325,000 shares of common stock at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. Odyssey’s common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on May 8, 2026, under the ticker symbol “ODTX.” The offering closed on May 11, 2026. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Odyssey on patent matters related to the transaction.
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Client Highlights
Wilson Sonsini Advises Ventyx Biosciences on $1.2 Billion Acquisition by Eli Lilly
On January 7, 2026, Eli Lilly and Company announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Ventyx Biosciences, Inc., a San Diego-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative oral therapies for patients with inflammatory-mediated diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly will acquire all the outstanding shares of Ventyx in an all-cash transaction, valuing at approximately $1.2 billion. Wilson Sonsini is advising Ventyx on the transaction.
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