Preformulation Scientist, Small Molecules

cytokinetics; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 158,000; Full time

Job summary

Cytokinetics is seeking a highly motivated Preformulation Pharmaceutical Scientist to join our Preclinical Research Sciences team in South San Francisco. You will lead preformulation assessment of small molecules and design formulations to enable non-clinical PK, pharmacology, and toxicology studies.

Ideal candidates have an MS or PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences or related field and hands-on experience with solubility, solid-state, and analytical method development in discovery research.

Qualifications

• MS/PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences or related field required.
• 7+ years for MS or 4+ years for PhD in preformulation or formulation development.
• Experience formulating poorly water-soluble compounds for animal studies.
• Hands-on experience with HPLC/UPLC analysis and method development.
• Solubility assays in SGF and biorelevant media per USP methods.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the preformulation representative on drug discovery and early development project teams, communicating strategy, risks, and data to cross-functional partners.
• Design and evaluate formulations for non-clinical PK, PK/PD, pharmacology, and toxicology studies, selecting vehicles and excipients that deliver the required exposure and stability.
• Lead preformulation assessment of new chemical entities (NCEs), including solubility, solid‑state stability, particle size and morphology, bio‑relevant dissolution, and polymorphism.
• Conduct salt, co‑crystal, and solid‑form screening to support solid‑form selection and de‑risk downstream development.
• Apply solubility‑enabling technologies, such as amorphous solid dispersions, lipid‑based systems, nanosuspensions, and complexation, to poorly water‑soluble compounds.
• Develop and qualify HPLC/UPLC methods supporting formulation characterization, stability assessment, and dose formulation analysis, including concentration and homogeneity verification for GLP toxicology studies.
• Plan and lead laboratory work in accordance with project timelines, and oversee formulation or analytical work placed with contract research organizations.
• Contribute preformulation and formulation data to candidate selection decisions and to documentation supporting first‑in‑human studies.
• Author technical reports and correspondence to a standard suitable for internal review, CMC handoff, and regulatory filings.
• Monitor the scientific literature and proactively apply established and emerging approaches to project challenges.
• Effectively communicate and collaborate with CMC Formulation Development to enable robust and reliable advancement of compounds from preclinical to clinical phases of development

Skills

Physicochemical properties

Solid-state chemistry

Analytical method development

HPLC/UPLC analysis

Project management

Written and verbal communication

Education

MS/PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences or related

Tools

HPLC/UPLC instrumentation

Mass spectrometry

Job description

Cytokinetics is seeking a highly motivated Preformulation Pharmaceutical Scientist to join our Preclinical Research Sciences team in South San Francisco. You will lead preformulation assessment of small molecules and design formulations to enable non-clinical PK, pharmacology, and toxicology studies.

Ideal candidates have an MS or PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences or related field and hands-on experience with solubility, solid-state, and analytical method development in discovery research.