ViiV Healthcare (GSK) Scientific Leader, Pre-clinical DMPK Drug Discovery Modeling
ViiV Healthcare
Summary
The Scientific Leader, Pre-clinical DMPK Drug Discovery Modeling will serve in a matrix leadership role driving model-informed drug discovery across ViiV's Drug Discovery organization by developing and applying fit-for-purpose modeling and simulation approaches that enable rapid, data-driven decision-making for HIV drug discovery programs.
Job description
This predominantly discovery-focused role partners closely with DMPK, Medicinal Chemistry, Biology, and Clinical Pharmacology to enable early dose predictions and to guide the design and selection of high-quality clinical candidates as rapidly as possible.
You will leverage your expertise in PBPK, IVIVE, PK/PD, formulation and route-of-administration modeling to develop modeling approaches and scalable tools that accelerate decision-making from target validation through candidate selection and into early clinical development for multiple modalities (e.g., small molecules, biologics, ADCs, LNPs, and PROTACs).
Responsibilities
- Develop and apply fit-for-purpose mechanistic and translational models (PBPK, IVIVE, PK/PD) to guide drug discovery teams toward the highest-quality clinical candidates
- Translate complex ADME, PK, PD, and translational data into actionable insights for project teams and senior leadership
- Apply modeling expertise across diverse modalities, formulations, and routes of administration, including long-acting therapies
- Build scalable computational tools, workflows, and prototypes that accelerate discovery decisions and candidate optimization
- Establish best practices, standards, and governance for modeling methodologies, tools, and computational workflows
- Contribute to scientific publications, regulatory submissions, and other technical documentation, and represent ViiV externally through regulatory interactions and scientific thought leadership
Basic Qualifications
- Master's degree with 7 or more years of post-graduate experience, or a PhD with 4 or more years of post-graduate experience, supporting drug discovery programs from lead optimization to Phase I clinical studies
- Strong understanding of ADME principles and integration of standard DMPK workflows and data streams into empirical (e.g. NCA, compartmental modeling) and mechanistic modeling and simulation (e.g. PBPK, QSP) approaches to support rapid discovery decision-making
- Demonstrated ability to apply modeling and simulation approaches to influence key drug discovery decisions, including lead optimization, candidate selection, dose projection, and development strategy
- Broad computational programming expertise in programming and modeling languages (e.g., R, Python, or equivalent) and modeling platforms (e.g., Simcyp, GastroPlus, Phoenix WinNonLin, etc.) to develop modeling and analysis workflows
- Experience integrating diverse datasets (in vitro, in vivo, clinical, omics where applicable) into unified predictive modeling platforms
- Ability to interpret and communicate modeling results to cross-functional teams, and through written communication such as internal reports and publications
Preferred Qualifications
- PhD with 6 or more years of drug discovery experience in DMPK or a related discipline
- Demonstrated experience developing and applying modeling and simulation strategies across diverse modalities and routes of administration, including oral therapies, long-acting injectables, biologics, ADCs, lipid nanoparticles, and other advanced therapeutic platforms
- Experience working across teams, including matrix and functional leadership, and partnering with internal and external experts to deliver quality candidates with speed
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including experience communicating scientific concepts to cross-functional teams and key stakeholders
- Experience in infectious disease and/or immunology therapeutic areas
Requirements
- Master's degree with 7 or more years of post-graduate experience, or a PhD with 4 or more years of post-graduate experience, supporting drug discovery programs from lead optimization to Phase I clinical studies
- Strong understanding of ADME principles and integration of standard DMPK workflows and data streams into empirical (e.g. NCA, compartmental modeling) and mechanistic modeling and simulation (e.g. PBPK, QSP) approaches to support rapid discovery decision-making
- Demonstrated ability to apply modeling and simulation approaches to influence key drug discovery decisions, including lead optimization, candidate selection, dose projection, and development strategy
- Broad computational programming expertise in programming and modeling languages (e.g., R, Python, or equivalent) and modeling platforms (e.g., Simcyp, GastroPlus, Phoenix WinNonLin, etc.) to develop modeling and analysis workflows
- Experience integrating diverse datasets (in vitro, in vivo, clinical, omics where applicable) into unified predictive modeling platforms
- Ability to interpret and communicate modeling results to cross-functional teams, and through written communication such as internal reports and publications
- PhD with 6 or more years of drug discovery experience in DMPK or a related discipline
- Demonstrated experience developing and applying modeling and simulation strategies across diverse modalities and routes of administration, including oral therapies, long-acting injectables, biologics, ADCs, lipid nanoparticles, and other advanced therapeutic platforms
- Experience working across teams, including matrix and functional leadership, and partnering with internal and external experts to deliver quality candidates with speed
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including experience communicating scientific concepts to cross-functional teams and key stakeholders
- Experience in infectious disease and/or immunology therapeutic areas
Benefits
- Health care
- Insurance benefits
- Retirement benefits
- Paid holidays
- Vacation
- Paid caregiver leave
- Parental leave
- Medical leave
- Annual bonus
- Share based long term incentive program
- Domestic relocation package
Company overview
ViiV Healthcare is a British multinational pharmaceutical company exclusively dedicated to the research, development, and commercialization of medicines for the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Established in 2009 as a joint venture between GSK and Pfizer, with Shionogi joining in 2012, ViiV Healthcare represents a unique collaboration in the pharmaceutical industry with ownership distributed among GSK (76.5%), Pfizer (13.5%), and Shionogi (10%). As the only global pharmaceutical company 100% focused on HIV, ViiV Healthcare has developed a comprehensive portfolio of antiretroviral therapies including nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, integrase strand transfer inhibitors, protease inhibitors, and innovative fixed-dose combinations. The company holds approximately 32% of the global HIV therapy market, making it the second-largest player in this specialized sector. With over 1,100 employees worldwide and headquarters in London, ViiV Healthcare operates across multiple continents, maintaining a strong commitment to community engagement, treatment access programs, and partnerships with HIV-affected communities to advance its mission of ending the HIV epidemic.