Senior Scientist, II - Molecular Profiling and Drug Delivery - AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas – immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care – and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. 

Organization Description

The Molecular Profiling and Drug Delivery (MPDD) function within the Small Molecule CMC organization is accountable for a broad range of deliverables across various stages of drug discovery and development. During lead optimization and through candidate selection, MPDD scientists utilize state of the art automation and computational tools supported by expertise in biopharmaceutics, drug delivery, and solid-state chemistry to collaboratively progress candidates with higher probability of success into development and advise clinical formulation strategy. From candidate selection through clinical proof of concept and product launch, MPDD scientists work in cross functional teams to identify the commercial solid form of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and establish structure-property-performance correlations to help deliver robust commercial processes and align control strategies across drug substance and product. They also transition drug substance isolation processes and relevant physical characterization methods to commercial manufacturing sites and work within teams to ensure successful regulatory submissions.

Scientists within AbbVie's MPDD organization work collaboratively with other functions within Development Sciences and Discovery to conduct developability assessment to select molecules with higher probability of success for clinical development and eventual commercialization.  This includes profiling of physicochemical properties, development of preclinical formulations, identifying solutions to in vivo absorption challenges, and advancement of novel drug delivery strategies across multiple routes of administration that are aligned with program target product profiles and downstream partners.  Modalities of interest include traditional small molecules as well as complex chemically synthesized modalities such as PROTACs and are administered as immediate oral formulations as well as subcutaneous or intramuscular sustained release drug depot delivery systems.  In this role, you will work in cross-functional teams in matrixed environments and engage in multidisciplinary problem solving.

Responsibilities

AbbVie's MPDD organization is seeking a highly motivated, talented, and creative scientist with expertise and some experience in pharmaceutical sciences and drug delivery for a Senior Scientist II position.  The primary role of this position is to serve as an MPDD project leader on discovery programs, leading CMC developability assessment for emerging molecules on small molecule pipeline programs. Within the projects, small molecules are delivered across different routes of administration, e.g. oral delivery as well as parenteral delivery by injecting subcutaneous or intramuscular depot formulations.  This role will also entail contributing towards developing our drug delivery capabilities with a focus on complex chemically synthesized modalities such as PROTACS.  This person will be working collaboratively with discovery and development partners across disciplines to advance molecules to clinical development with improved developability profiles. The candidate will be a MPDD project leader within dynamic, engaging, and multidisciplinary project teams with the ability to apply their expertise and leadership skills to advise teams on key developability risks and the prioritization of mitigation strategies. Formulation design of immediate release oral formulations and parenteral drug depot formulations will be a focus for this position.

The desired candidate will have a strong background and hand-on experience in the areas of physicochemical and/or biophysical properties and their impact on developability, preclinical and/or clinical formulation, biopharmaceutics relevant to small molecules across different routes of administration. Specifically, the candidate should have experience developing immediate release oral drug formulations applying enabling manufacturing technologies for poorly soluble drugs (e.g. amorphous solid dispersions) as well as for formulating subcutaneous or intramuscular depot delivery systems (Long-Acting Injectables) for sustained delivery concepts.

• Senior Scientist II typically requires Bachelors, Masters, or Ph.D. with 12+ (B.S.), 10+ (M.S.), and 4+ (Ph.D.) years of experience in pharmaceutical or related industry.  
• Preferred educational backgrounds include but are not restricted to Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Chemical/ Biomedical Engineering, and Materials Science.
• Fundamental understanding of biopharmaceutics as it relates to drug absorption across routes of administration and physicochemical properties as related to formulation design.
• Familiarity and preferred hands-on experience in physicochemical property assessment related to understanding CMC developability profile and potential risk mitigation strategies.  Techniques of interest include, but are not limited to: chromatography, x-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, laser diffraction, thermal analysis, microscopy, biophysical characterization techniques, etc.
• Experience developing and characterizing drug delivery systems to improve the bioperformance of small molecules or PROTACs.
• Knowledge of preclinical and clinical formulation development principles relevant to chemically synthesized molecules across routes of administration include, but are not limited to: Surfactant and lipid based liquid formulations, solid amorphous solid dispersions, nanocrystalline formulations and other submicron delivery systems, parenteral depot formulations (Long-Acting Injectables).
• Experience in analytical characterization of liquid and solid preclinical and clinical formulations.
• Excellent self-management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated strong communication and presentation skills and ability to clearly communicate theories and concepts, influence others without authority, and drive technical excellence within cross-functional teams or with external partners.

Key Competencies

• Builds strong relationships with peers and cross-functional partners to enable higher performance.
• Learns fast, grasps the "essence”, and can change course quickly where indicated.
• Demonstrates creative 'out of the box' thinking to solve difficult technical problems and champion new technologies to achieve project goals.
• Connects ideas from disparate fields, integrates data and information quickly, and takes risks to achieve the highest performance.
• Raises the bar and is never satisfied with the status quo.
• Creates a learning environment, open to suggestions and experimentation for improvement.
• Embraces the ideas of others, nurtures innovation and manages innovation to reality.

• Location: 222 Jacobs Street, Cambridge, MA (Legacy Cerevel Therapeutics site)
• The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.​
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.​
• This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive programs. ​

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law. ​

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AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives, serving our community and embracing diversity and inclusion.  It is AbbVie’s policy to employ qualified persons of the greatest ability without discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected group status.

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