Clinical Development Physician, Oncology Solid Tumor (Medical Director)

About the Company

Astellas is a global life sciences company committed to turning innovative science into value for patients. We provide transformative therapies in disease areas that include oncology, ophthalmology, urology, immunology, and women's health. Through our research and development programs, we are pioneering new healthcare solutions for diseases with high unmet medical need.

About the Role

Responsible for overseeing the design and delivery of trials within a given late-phase program or multiple early-phase programs in the Immuno-Oncology group. Reports to the Medical Lead/disease area strategy head for the given program(s) and is accountable for defining the strategy and execution of assigned trials. Serves as a clinical team leader with a clear understanding of responsibilities and accountabilities, acting as a consultant and support to other functions, particularly the asset area.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates effectively with key internal and external stakeholders as a member of the asset team and leader of the clinical study team to advance one or more clinical trials.
• Serves as Medical Monitor with responsibility for safety monitoring. Ensures patient safety on clinical studies is maintained. Generates safety-related documents, such as medical monitoring reports and the safety database, to ensure that the reporting of SAEs is current and complete.
• Collaborates closely with the Safety Officer in writing and/or reviewing Safety Narratives, Investigator Letters, and other safety documentation for site-reported safety events.
• Coordinates with the Safety Officer on programs for appropriate benefit-risk assessments, planning FIH study dose selection and escalation path for early-phase programs, safety management on trials, provides clinical input and review of clinical documents, statistical analysis plans, interim and final analyses on trials, publications, CSRs, DSURs, and other critical documents.
• Able to assimilate Research, Clinical Pharmacology, Biomarker, medical safety, Toxicology (early-phase programs), regulatory, biostatistics, medical affairs, Health Economics, and commercial perspectives into clinical development strategies and trial designs.
• Responsible for managing the process of development of protocols and necessary regulatory documents.
• Accountable for the development, implementation, and execution of clinical trials as part of a large complex late-phase (post POC, established market) program or a group of earlier-stage programs, in alignment with Asset and overall clinical strategy.
• In late-phase programs, serves as the Lead for an indication-specific clinical development team and is responsible for both strategy and execution of the clinical development plan for that indication or line of therapy.
• In earlier phases, serves as the clinical lead for the entire clinical development strategy and execution for a given program.
• Acquires public knowledge regarding the therapeutic landscape, potential competitor products, and serves as the clinical voice regarding the potential impact on planned clinical, medical affairs, and commercial strategies.
• Creates and maintains scientific/clinical networks and seeks external opinion leaders as appropriate. Serves as the clinical interface during clinical advisory boards, investigator meetings, and interactions with opinion leaders.
• Serves as the clinical interface in regulatory authority interactions.
• Accountable for clinical development milestones for their given trials. Supports the Medical Lead and Asset team at governance meetings and presents the clinical development plan in a succinct and clear manner.
• Works with Development Scientists and Clinical Operation Leads to ensure efficient and streamlined execution of clinical trials and acquisition and interpretation of high-quality clinical data to inform program-level decision making and overall development strategies.
• Designs scientifically rigorous, cost-effective, and patient-centric clinical trials in accordance with the Clinical Development Plan. Accountable for clinical trial scope development and authoring of the protocol, IB, ICF as appropriate, in coordination with development scientists, clinical operations, medical writing, and regulatory.
• Responsible for keeping the Medical Lead, Asset Lead, and Development Head informed on the progress of trials, risks, planned/required mitigations, and changes to timelines and budgets.
• Supports clinical development-related initiatives as needed. Leads and/or participates in scientific and medical training for other team members and external clients, investigators, and other site staff as it pertains to assigned studies.

Requirements

• MD or MD/PhD with oncology fellowship complete. Board certified with patient treatment experience beyond fellowship preferred.
• Must have 5 years of pharmaceutical industry or academia experience specifically in clinical trial design and execution in a bio-pharmaceutical development organization or a balance of experience at an academic institution and a pharmaceutical company.
• Proven record of designing clinical trials that can produce high-quality data in a timely manner for decision making.
• Documented experience planning and managing clinical trials, serving as a medical monitor, managing trial execution in coordination with clinical operations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Experience working in global teams and a global matrixed, remote working environment.
• Aware of cultural diversity and how to influence and manage in a multi-cultural organization.
• Highest level of scientific integrity and impeccable work ethics.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive experience in gastroesophageal or thoracic oncology or immuno-oncology in solid tumors.
• Prior clinical research experience in an academic setting.
• Experience in all phases of Clinical Development and interfaces with Drug Discovery through Marketing.
• Direct experience leading global regulatory marketing authorization submissions and defense of those submissions.

Location and Working Environment

This position is based in Northbrook, Illinois. Remote work from anywhere in the US is available. Astellas offers a hybrid working solution allowing time to connect with colleagues at the office with the flexibility to also work from home.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation and Sick time, plus national holidays including year-end shut down
• 401(k) match and annual company contribution
• Company-paid life insurance
• Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions
• Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions
• Company fleet vehicle for eligible positions
• Referral bonus program

Pay

Salary Range: $207,192 – $295,988 (Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to skills, experience, and organizational equity considerations).