Preclinical DMPK Design Leader

Are you an experienced DMPK scientist with expertise in drug discovery and an interest in how to optimize a compound's ADME properties? Would you like to apply your expertise in a company that is accelerating innovative science and turn ideas into life changing medicines? Join us to be part of the development of future treatments of Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic diseases!

Working at AstraZeneca means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together to make the impossible a reality. We are now recruiting a highly skilled and passionate scientist with expertise in Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK) or Medicinal Chemistry to join the DMPK Drug Design and Biotransformation team within the Early Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM) therapeutic area at AstraZeneca. The position is placed at AstraZeneca's dynamic R&D site in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Early CVRM is one of the three main therapeutic research areas within AstraZeneca which deliver candidate drugs into late-stage clinical development. Early CVRM is a global function with research units in Gaithersburg, US, Cambridge, UK and Gothenburg, Sweden. DMPK Drug Design and Biotransformation team is part of the DMPK department and based in AstraZeneca's world-class R&D center in Gothenburg Sweden. DMPK interacts with other functions in supporting CVRM projects all along the value chain, from target selection all the way to market launch and Life cycle management.

What you'll do

With a true passion for DMPK and science you will support our portfolio within the CVRM disease area. You will be the DMPK Design Lead and responsible for the delivery of the overall non-clinical DMPK to early drug projects from target selection to candidate drug selection. Responsibilities include:

* Lead DMPK activities to assess the compounds properties associated with absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination (ADME) and drug-drug interaction potential within agreed timelines and to the right quality
* Create and implement an ADME optimization strategy to ensure a candidate drug with optimal ADME properties
* Perform early efficacious human dose predictions
* Analyze and identify the main DMPK liabilities for new chemical series during the Lead Identification phase
* In collaboration with colleagues in key functions (medicinal chemistry, bioscience and safety) influence chemical drug design to optimize the ADME properties of our future therapeutic drugs
* Use state of the art in silico tools (e.g. physico-chemical models for DMPK predictions) in the design phase to enable synthesis of compounds with good DMPK properties
* Build open and honest collaborations with internal and external partners (for example global colleagues, CROs, universities, research institutes)
* Communicate scientific progresses both externally and internally

Essential for the role

The successful candidate is expected to have a solid understanding of DMPK and chemistry to be able to provide expert advice and interpretation of complex drug discovery data.

* PhD or equivalent degree in relevant discipline
* In depth understanding of correlations between physicochemical characteristics and their influence on DMPK properties and subsequent design of new compounds
* Excellent interpersonal and communicational skills, and ability to work in cross-functional teams as well as independently
* Scientific leadership evidenced by a publication track record and ability to independently lead the drafting and review of publication manuscripts
* Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and in writing
* Experience in pharmaceutical R&D and/or design and delivery of DMPK strategies is an advantage

So, what's next?

Are you already imagining yourself joining our team? Good, because we can't wait to hear from you!

For more information about the position please contact recruiting manager Marie Ahlqvist at marie.ahlqvist@astrazeneca.com

Welcome with your application no later than February 15, 2021

Where can I find out more?

Our Gothenburg site: https://www.astrazeneca.com/our-science/gothenburg.html

Life in Gothenburg and Sweden: https://www.movetogothenburg.com/

Culture and atmosphere of the Gothenburg site: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6496327311678410752/

Why AstraZeneca?

Our Gothenburg site is one of AstraZeneca's three strategic science centres. We thrive in a multinational environment working cross-functionally across the globe with AstraZeneca colleagues as well as academic and industry partners. Our way of life is to foster a working environment that nurtures, collaboration, openness and innovation. Therefore, we have created space for meetings, socializing and relaxation, where spontaneous meetings can give birth to new innovations. The unexpected ideas or thoughts that can come from a chat over something as simple as a cup of coffee or a stroll on our "walk and talk" meeting trail.