Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARWR) is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company that develops medicines that treat intractable diseases by silencing the genes that cause them. Using a broad portfolio of RNA chemistries and efficient modes of delivery, Arrowhead therapies trigger the RNA interference mechanism to induce rapid, deep, and durable knockdown of target genes. RNA interference, or RNAi, is a mechanism present in living cells that inhibits the expression of a specific gene, thereby affecting the production of a specific protein. Arrowhead’s RNAi-based therapeutics leverage this natural pathway of gene silencing.
Arrowhead is focused on developing innovative drugs for diseases with a genetic basis, typically characterized by the overproduction of one or more proteins that are involved with disease. The depth and versatility of our RNAi technologies enables us to potentially address conditions in virtually any therapeutic area and pursue disease targets that are not otherwise addressable by small molecules and biologics. Arrowhead is leading the field in bringing the promise of RNAi to address diseases outside of the liver, and our clinical pipeline includes disease targets in the liver and lung with a promising pipeline of preclinical candidates.
Arrowhead’s corporate headquarters is in Pasadena, CA with research and development teams in Madison, WI & San Diego, CA, and a state of the art manufacturing facility in Verona, WI. Our employees are nimble, science-driven innovators who are collaborating to bring new therapies to patients in need.
The Position
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals is seeking an accomplished Senior Scientist, DMPK to play a key role in advancing our growing pipeline of RNAi-based therapeutics. As a senior member of the Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK) function, you will partner closely with multidisciplinary teams of chemists, biologists, and translational scientists to shape strategies that enable successful candidate nomination and IND submissions.
In this high-impact role, you will lead the design and execution of preclinical DMPK studies, guide interpretation of complex PK/PD data, oversee internal and external study activities, and ensure delivery of high-quality datasets that meet regulatory expectations. The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment dedicated to scientific excellence and innovative drug development.
Responsibilities
- Develop and implement in vitro and in vivo DMPK strategies to support preclinical development for compounds across multiple indications and routes of administration.
- Manage all DMPK activities, including oversight of internal resources and CRO partners to ensure high-quality and timely data delivery.
- Design, supervise, and execute preclinical PK studies, including non-compartmental analysis (NCA), data interpretation, reporting, and communication of PK/PD insights to project teams.
- Prepare and deliver IND-enabling DMPK packages, ensuring compliance with regulatory expectations and contributing to regulatory submissions.
- Apply working knowledge of GLP/GCP principles and ensure appropriate documentation for regulated studies.
- Support GLP toxicokinetic (TK) study design, analysis, and reporting.
- Oversee metabolite identification in preclinical and clinical samples using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS).
- Contribute to a dynamic, fast-paced DMPK team by offering scientific leadership, troubleshooting support, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Maintain a current understanding of clinical pharmacology literature and regulatory guidance for oligonucleotide/RNAi therapeutics.
Requirements
- PhD in Pharmacometrics, Drug Metabolism, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related discipline with at least 3 years of industry experience.
- Deep and broad expertise in DMPK, with working knowledge of nucleotide or oligonucleotide drug metabolism and distribution highly desired.
- Hands-on experience with in vitro ADME assays, in vivo PK studies, drug–drug interaction (DDI) evaluations, and Phoenix WinNonlin.
- Experience with LC–MS/MS and HRMS, ideally applied to oligonucleotide therapeutics.
- Strong background in organic chemistry, biochemistry, and drug biotransformation.
- Demonstrated experience in drug development and understanding of regulatory processes.
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to interpret and present complex scientific data clearly.
Arrowhead provides competitive salaries and an excellent benefit package.
All applicants must have authorization to work in the US for a company.
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Top Skills
What We Do
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage, Nasdaq listed (ticker ARWR) company developing medicines that treat intractable diseases by silencing the genes that cause them. Using a broad portfolio of RNA chemistries and efficient modes of delivery, our therapies trigger the RNA interference mechanism to induce rapid, deep and durable knockdown of target genes. RNA interference, or RNAi, is a mechanism present in living cells that inhibits the expression of a specific gene, thereby affecting the production of a specific protein. Our RNAi-based therapeutics are at the leading edge of genetic-based therapy with the potential to bring life changing treatments for patients. Our Targeted RNAi Molecule (TRiMTM) platform utilizes ligand-mediated delivery and is designed to enable tissue-specific targeting while being structurally simple. The TRiM platform builds on more than a decade of work on actively targeted drug delivery and offers several advantages including simplified manufacturing and reduced costs; multiple routes of administration; and potential for improved safety. Our employees are nimble, science-driven, and innovative professionals. A career at Arrowhead offers the opportunity to collaborate with top notch scientists to rapidly discover and develop RNAi-based therapeutics to add to our growing pipeline. Research and development activities are located in Madison, WI. Our R&D group includes fully-integrated capabilities for chemistry, biology, and toxicology. Madison is an exciting and sophisticated city that includes state government, the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin, and major research organizations. Our HQ, clinical and regulatory operations are located in Pasadena, CA. Just north of Los Angeles and resting in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, Pasadena is known for its natural scenic beauty, vibrant cultural and academic environment and rich architectural setting.
