Principal Scientist, DMPK/ADME

About the role

Zealand Pharma is significantly expanding its global R&D capabilities and establishing new research units in Cambridge, MA to advance diverse drug modality capabilities in metabolic disease. As part of this expansion, we are seeking a Principal Scientist to take a leading scientific role building our DMPK and bioanalysis capabilities within complex molecular formats. This is a unique opportunity to shape strategy, culture, and technical excellence from the ground up.

Responsibilities

• Drive DMPK/ADME strategy for complex drug modalities (e.g., antibodies, antibody-peptide conjugates and peptides)
• Establish and grow DMPK discovery platforms and bioanalysis capabilities (LC-MS, immunoassays) to support PK, metabolite identification, and nonclinical study needs
• Provide deep in vitro assay expertise across multiple modality formats, leading key activities such as metabolic stability, binding-related considerations, and risk assessments
• Oversee PK studies (internal and/or external) from study design through assay development, data interpretation, and reporting, ensuring scientific quality, timelines, and documentation
• Deliver integrated DMPK summaries and high-quality data packages to support project teams, governance milestones, and external-facing documentation as required
• Contribute to continuous improvement by adopting efficient, digital, and automation-enabled approaches within DMPK workflows

Qualifications

• PhD in pharmaceutical sciences, biochemistry, chemistry or a related scientific field
• 6+ years of relevant post-degree experience in DMPK/ADME (drug discovery, non-clinical studies), with complex drug modalities (e.g., antibody-peptide conjugates, peptides, antibodies)
• A track record in PK study design, data interpretation, and translating DMPK insights into actionable project recommendations
• Solid background (hands-on) in bioanalysis and assay development (LC-MS and ligand binding assays)
• Experience optimizing PK properties of peptides, antibodies, and conjugates
• Background in ADME assays and metabolite ID
• Experience working with external partners/CROs, including scientific oversight and quality-focused execution

Preferred qualifications

• Experience contributing to regulatory-relevant DMPK documentation (e.g., IND/CTA support) is an advantage
• Experience with digital/automation-enabled DMPK workflows is an advantage

Your new team

You will join the Global DMPK department within Pharmacokinetics, Immunogenicity and Bioanalytical Sciences, working closely with cross-functional R&D stakeholders (e.g., Discovery, Translational, Toxicology, Clinical Pharmacology, and Regulatory) to shape study strategies, interpret data, and communicate DMPK risks and recommendations.

Pay

Salary Range: $184,200 - $253,200

About Zealand Pharma A/S

Zealand Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ZEAL) is a biotechnology company focused on advancing medicines for obesity and metabolic health. Combining more than 25 years of peptide R&D expertise with a proprietary data platform that leverages advanced data-driven and AI/ML approaches, Zealand Pharma aims to lead a new era in obesity and metabolic health. To date, more than ten Zealand Pharma-invented drug candidates have entered clinical development, of which two products have reached the market and three candidates are in late-stage development. The Company has collaborations with global pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners for research, development, and commercialization. Founded in 1998, Zealand Pharma is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a U.S. presence in Cabridge, Massachusetts.