VP of Immune & Inflammation (I&I) Discovery & Development

Summary:

We seek a highly experienced Physician Scientist (MD/PhD) with more than 15 years of industry experience in biotech/pharma to lead high-impact programs in Immunology & Inflammation (I&I) therapeutics. This senior role demands unparalleled expertise in I&I underlying disease mechanisms from drug target biology and mechanisms to disease manifestation, and translational validation and strategies to bridge discovery with early clinical development. The ideal candidate will have broad and extensive knowledge and experience with both clinically validated and emerging drug targets in I&I space and track record in identifying and advancing novel targets, overcoming drug development challenges, and collaborating with global KOLs to address clinically unmet medical needs in autoimmune, inflammatory, and immune mediated disorders (e.g., lupus, IBD, RA, MS). A passion for accelerating drug development to deliver early clinical proof-of-concept is critical.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership in I&I Drug Development:
- Define and prioritize biologic drug targets (e.g., cytokines, cell-surface receptors for T, B and other immune cells) with a deep understanding of their disease mechanistic rationale, competitive landscape, and clinical applicability.

- Define target product profile with the research team
- Lead cross-functional teams to overcome drug target challenges (e.g., redundancy, safety, biomarker identification) and de-risk programs from preclinical to early clinical stages (Phase I/II).
- Drive translational strategies to align preclinical models that are translatable in human clinical trials (e.g., patient-derived organoids, diseased human tissues) with clinical trial design and patient stratification.

2. Unmet Medical Needs & KOL Engagement:
- Leverage 15+ years of industry experience to shape therapeutic strategies that address gaps in existing treatments (e.g., lack of high efficacy, non-responders, safety, durability).
- Partner with global KOLs to validate disease biology insights, refine clinical endpoints, and design trials that reflect real-world patient heterogeneity.
- Lead scientific advisory boards, scientific consortia, and regulatory interactions (FDA/EMA) to align development pathways with evolving clinical paradigms.

3. Disease Pathology & Competitive Intelligence:
- Maintain a deep understanding of I&I disease pathology and evolving treatment landscapes.
- Anticipate emerging targets (e.g., novel T cell targets, checkpoints, tissue-resident immunity) and position the pipeline to capitalize on first-in-class/best-in-class opportunities, particularly for disease modifying mechanisms.

4. Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Partner with discovery teams to optimize lead candidates for clinical differentiation (e.g., potency, half-life, tissue penetration).

Qualifications:
- MD and or PhD in Immunology or related field.
- 15+ years in biotech/pharma R&D, with a broad knowledge on I&I diseases and therapeutics. Highly experienced in clinically validated drug targets and also emerging novel targets, particularly for cell surface or secreted targets amendable for biologics.
- Proven success in advancing multiple candidates from discovery through early clinical development (Phase II).

- Board certification/eligibility in Rheumatology, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, or Allergy/Immunology preferred.

 Experience:
- Extensive network of global KOLs and experience leading cross-functional, matrixed teams.

- Mastery of I&I target biology broadly, including clinically validated and emerging pathways.
- Expertise in translational tools: human tissue analytics, functional genomics, PK/PD modeling, and biomarker-driven trial designs.
- Fluency in regulatory requirements (IND/CTA, orphan drug designations) and adaptive trial methodologies.
- Strategic thinker with urgency to translate science into patient impact.