Director, Pharmacometrics & Clinical Pharmacology

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. seeks a Director of Pharmacometrics and Clinical Pharmacology to lead quantitative strategies across its RNAi programs in San Diego. The role shapes trial design, PK/PD modeling, and regulatory submissions while partnering with Clinical Development and Regulatory Affairs.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD and 12+ years in pharmacometrics, with deep NONMEM expertise and a track record guiding late-stage development and global submissions for complex biologics.

Qualifications

• PhD in Pharmacology or related field with extensive pharmacometrics experience.
• 12+ years in pharmacometrics and/or clinical pharmacology, including late-stage programs.
• Strong modeling and regulatory submission experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead pharmacometrics and clinical pharmacology across multiple programs.
• Oversee population PK/PD analyses, exposure–response, and dose optimization.
• Support global regulatory submissions and IND/CTA/NDA/BLAs.
• Collaborate with Clinical Development, Regulatory, Biometrics and Medical Affairs.

Skills

Leadership

Pharmacometrics

Population PK/PD

NONMEM

Regulatory submissions

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in Pharmacology or related field

Tools

NONMEM

R

Simulations

Job description

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 a Director of Pharmacometrics and Clinical Pharmacology to provide strategic and scientific leadership across the company’s clinical development programs. This senior-level role is responsible for advancing pharmacometric and clinical pharmacology strategies to support the global development and regulatory submission of Arrowhead’s leading siRNA therapeutics.

The Director will play a critical role in clinical trial design, data analysis, regulatory documentation, and cross-functional decision-making, ensuring that dosing strategies and clinical pharmacology plans are scientifically rigorous and aligned with regulatory expectations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the pharmacometrics and clinical pharmacology lead across multiple development programs within Arrowhead’s RNAi therapeutic portfolio.
• Lead model-informed drug development strategies, including population PK/PD analyses, exposure-response analyses, translational modeling, dose optimization, and quantitative interpretation of clinical and translational data.
• Develop and support clinical pharmacology strategies for first-in-human studies, dose escalation and optimization, proof-of-concept studies, drug-drug interaction assessments, food effect studies, and special population evaluations.
• Provide scientific leadership and oversight for PK/PD analyses and modeling activities conducted internally and through external CRO partners.
• Contribute to global regulatory submissions and health authority interactions, including INDs, CTAs, NDA/BLA submissions, briefing documents, and responses to agency questions.
• Author and review clinical pharmacology content for Investigational Brochures (IBs), clinical protocols, Clinical Study Reports (CSRs), and regulatory submission documents.
• Collaborate closely with Clinical Development, Translational Sciences, Regulatory Affairs, Biometrics, Biomarkers, Medical Affairs, and Program Leadership teams to support program strategy and execution.
• Present quantitative analyses, development strategies, and recommendations to project teams and senior leadership.
• Maintain current knowledge of evolving scientific methodologies, regulatory guidance, and industry trends related to pharmacometrics, clinical pharmacology, and RNAi therapeutics.

Requirements

• PhD or equivalent advanced degree in Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or related quantitative discipline.
• 12+ years in pharmacometrics and/or clinical pharmacology, including experience supporting late-stage development programs and global regulatory submissions.
• Deep expertise in population PK/PD modeling and simulation with strong proficiency in industry-standard software such as NONMEM.
• Strong understanding of exposure-response analysis, translational modeling, dose optimization, and model-informed drug development principles.
• Experience supporting regulatory interactions with FDA, EMA, and other global health authorities.
• Knowledge of PBPK, QSP, mechanistic modeling, or systems pharmacology approaches is highly desirable.
• Prior experience with oligonucleotide, RNAi, rare disease, liver-targeted therapeutics, or other complex biologic modalities is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead complex scientific initiatives and influence cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly communicate complex quantitative concepts to scientific and non-scientific audiences.

Preferred

• Familiarity with PBPK/PD or quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) modeling

Arrowhead provides competitive salaries and an excellent benefit package.

Candidates must have current, valid authorization to work in the country where this role is located.