Biopharmaceutics Expert in Oral Drug Delivery

Job Description
At AstraZeneca we turn ideas into life changing medicines and strive to continuously meet the unmet needs of patients worldwide. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big, and working together to make the impossible a reality. If you are swift to action, confident to lead, willing to collaborate, and curious about what science can do, then you’re our kind of person.
Pharmaceutical Sciences at AstraZeneca delivers the therapies of the future through scientific leadership in drug delivery, design of synthetic routes, and manufacturing of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and drug products. Our portfolio of projects spans small molecules, peptides, oligonucleotides to RNA-based therapeutics across AstraZeneca’s therapy areas. Advanced Drug Delivery (ADD) resides within Pharmaceutical Sciences with a mission to transform diverse modalities into investigational medicines.
We now seek a talented, motivated biopharmaceutics scientist at a Senior Scientist or Associate Principal Scientist level to join our Small Molecule Preformulation and Biopharmaceutics team in Gothenburg, Sweden. The remit of the cross-functional team is to deliver small molecule formulation and analytical solutions up to candidate drug delivery and GLP tox, as well as biopharmaceutics expertise from discovery up to Phase II.
This is an exciting role where you as a Biopharmaceutics Expert are anticipated to provide biopharmaceutics input into primarily oral development projects and participate in method development and research projects within the area of oral biopharmaceutics. The career level of the position, Senior Scientist or Associate Principal Scientists, will be set according to the background of the applicant. For applicants at the Associate Principal Scientist level a more independent contribution to strategies and deliveries within science and projects, as well as guidance to more junior level co-workers is expected.
Typical accountabilities for the role
Responsibilities for influencing design and selection of lead compound based on biopharmaceutics properties in collaboration with cross-functional networks such as chemistry, safety and pharmacokinetic specialists.
Expected to influence formulation design and development strategies for projects to ensure desired pre-clinical and clinical performance targets through collaboration in multidisciplinary teams consisting of formulators, analysts, solid state and material science experts
Expected to have a holistic view of CMC activities as well as have knowledge of other scientific disciplines within BioPharmaceuticals R&D, and contributes to the delivery of innovative and differentiated strategies that balance scientific risks against return on investment based on multidisciplinary input
Executes and aids in development of appropriate in vitro tests, as well as guides in vivo methodologies to predict product performance, including dissolution, absorption, permeability and intestinal precipitation tests to support drug development
Predicts pre-clinical and clinical performance of drug products based on in vitro as well as in vivo data using mechanistic in silico models
Supports design of clinical studies and clinical bridging strategies with a line-of-sight perspective either independently or with the aid of senior experts dependent on level of expertise in the field of biopharmaceutics.
Participates in cross-functional and external networks to ensure biopharmaceutics related science and project input is up-to-date with current developments in the field, and shares the knowledge in and outside of own function
Ensures that clinical reports, scientific presentations, publications and other outgoing documents are produced with high quality, and produce these through collaboration with appropriate collaborators within and outside of AstraZeneca
Ensures that developed strategies are in line with regulatory guidances (e.g. ICH, EMA, FDA)
Ensures own work, and the work of others, is performed in accordance with appropriate Safety, Health & Environment (SHE), quality and compliance standards, e.g. Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)

Education and work history to fit the role
We are looking for candidates with preferably a PhD in a relevant discipline (such as Biopharmaceutics, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacokinetics or Drug Delivery) or equivalent industrial experience within oral pharmaceutical drug development
Previous experience supporting oral projects and a strong understanding of biopharmaceutics, physical chemistry, biology and pharmacokinetics to enable a mechanistic understanding of in vivo drug product performance
Experience of presenting scientific findings in publications, presentations and networking activities with ability to communicate and write proficiently in English. Capable of, and desire for continuing to develop yourself in this area
Practical experience of using in vivo, in vitro and in silico methodologies to understand drug product performance and aid in product development
Good understanding/knowledge of the overall drug development process and knowledge of what CMC attributes that make this process successful

Additional capabilities desirable for the role
Innovative, driving for scientific excellence with a continuous improvement mind-set
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, and the ability to discuss complex ideas in a simple, easy to understand way
Ability to tackle complex scientific problems and troubleshooting, and independently lead and influence projects

If your passion is science and you want to be part of a team that makes a big impact on patients’ lives, then there’s no better place to be.
Apply now to join us if you’re inspired to help us turn ideas into life changing medicines in the rapidly changing R&D environment!