Vice President Discovery Research

PepGen is looking for an innovative and passionate drug hunter to lead the company’s discovery efforts. This is a unique opportunity to lead the PepGen Discovery Team, creating the next wave of rare disease therapies, employing PepGen’s EDO (Enhanced Delivery Oligonucleotide) technology.

The Vice President, Discovery Research will be responsible for identifying promising areas for oligonucleotide drug discovery, and to create future drug candidates from target identification and validation to lead optimization and candidate selection. The selected candidate will be responsible for managing a portfolio of projects and providing scientific leadership and strategic direction to the discovery research team, which consists of scientists spanning chemistry and biology. The ideal candidate is an accomplished and well-published scientist in the oligo field with a passion for and track record of discovering new targets and therapeutics. The ideal candidate thinks big and embraces the limitless possibilities of drug discovery with passion, creativity, and pragmatism. The successful candidate should be able to balance a deep understanding of the science with a willingness to explore unconventional approaches, while also maintaining a data-driven and evidence-based approach. The Vice President, Discovery Research will drive the company's Enhanced Delivery Oligonucleotide (EDO) drug discovery efforts to new heights, and make a meaningful impact on patients' lives.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of projects and ensure they are executed on time and on budget
• Evaluate new scientific opportunities and make recommendations to the executive team
• Lead the internal and external chemistry efforts to design and optimize new drug candidates
• Partner with the preclinical and clinical development teams to advance the company's pipeline
• Oversee and manage evaluation of mechanism of action studies including: cellular/tissue uptake, sub-cellular trafficking, and target engagement using the EDO molecules
• Work collaboratively with other functions within the company, including business development, intellectual property, and operations
• Lead a team of scientific leaders, scientists and research associates responsible for the discovery and development of new therapeutics using PepGen’s EDO technology
• Establish and lead the research strategies to identify and develop novel therapeutic research candidates using PepGen’s EDO technology and explore new modalities that can be delivered using the EDO technology
• · Develop and maintain relationships with academic and industry partners to stay abreast of the latest scientific and technological developments
• Lead the development of assays for high throughput screening to identify novel peptide-oligonucleotide conjugates
• Lead all aspects of in vitro screening spanning in-vitro cell lines and reporter systems and in-vivo disease models. Oversee compound optimization and lead candidate identification
• Represent the company in scientific and industry forums

Qualifications

• Strong scientific background and knowledge of the latest scientific and technological developments in the oligonucleotide field
• An ability to represent the company in scientific and industry forums, sharing knowledge and insights, and advancing the company's reputation as a thought leader in drug discovery
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to effectively manage and motivate a team
• A record of scientific publication and presentations in relevant fields, demonstrating expertise and leadership in drug discovery
• At least 10 years of experience in academia, pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with other functions within the company and external partners
• PhD in a relevant scientific discipline, such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or pharmacology.
• A passion for mentoring and developing junior scientists, fostering a culture of scientific excellence, and promoting the growth and development of the next generation of scientific leaders
• Experience managing teams of scientists and leading oligonucleotide drug discovery projects from target identification to clinical development

Note: This is not a remote role. We like to work together and operate in a hybrid model in office Tues, Weds & Thurs each week.

About PepGen

PepGen Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing the next-generation of oligonucleotide therapies with the goal of transforming the treatment of severe neuromuscular and neurological diseases. PepGen’s Enhanced Delivery Oligonucleotide, or EDO, platform is founded on over a decade of research and development and leverages cell-penetrating peptides to improve the uptake and activity of conjugated oligonucleotide therapeutics. Using these EDO peptides, we are generating a pipeline of oligonucleotide therapeutic candidates that target the root cause of serious diseases. For more information, visit www.pepgen.com or follow PepGen on Twitter and LinkedIn.

PepGen is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer.