Full-Time
Vice President
Clinical Development, Danicamtiv
Updated on 9/3/2026
Kardigan
201-500 employees
Biotech firm developing cardiovascular medicines
Compensation Overview
$340k - $416k/yr
South San Francisco, CA, USA + 1 more
More locations: Princeton, NJ, USA
Remote
MD
 Biology & Biotech (1) |
|---|
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- An MD or equivalent medical degree is required.
- At least 15 years of clinical development experience within biotechnology and/or pharmaceutical companies is required.
- Demonstrated experience serving as clinical lead for a major drug program or asset is required.
- A strong understanding of cardiovascular clinical trial designs, cardiovascular trial endpoints, and regulatory strategies for cardiovascular drug development is required.
- Well-developed relationships with external experts in the cardiomyopathy and heart failure field and a demonstrated track record of overseeing external research collaborations are required.
- The ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams is required.
- Experience in late-stage development and/or regulatory submissions is required.
- Prior experience managing or mentoring other MDs is required.
- Experience in a high-growth or emerging biotechnology environment is required.
- A track record of effective partnership with a Chief Medical Officer or senior medical leadership is required.
- Serve as the Clinical Lead for the Danicamtiv program, with end-to-end accountability for clinical strategy and execution, including protocol development and approval and regulatory interactions.
- Lead the Danicamtiv Clinical Strategy Team with cross-functional leadership in development and execution of the Danicamtiv clinical development plan.
- Own clinical development plans and protocol design, with critical input for indication selection and target product profile development for Danicamtiv.
- Lead clinical decision-making based on emerging data, benefit–risk assessments, and evolving regulatory interactions and expectations.
- Act as the primary clinical development point of contact for regulatory interactions, investigators, and key opinion leaders related to the Danicamtiv program.
- Partner with Clinical Operations, Biometrics, Regulatory, and Medical Affairs colleagues to oversee and execute clinical trials across the Danicamtiv program.
- Act as a senior clinical representative in discussions with the Kardigan Executive Committee as needed.
- Present clinical strategy, study progress, and risks to internal leadership and, when needed, to the Kardigan Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
- Represent the Kardigan clinical development function externally at scientific meetings, advisory boards, and interactions with key opinion leaders related to the Danicamtiv programs and potentially other drug programs.
- Board certification and clinical practice experience in cardiology are strongly preferred.
- Experience in cardiomyopathy and/or heart failure drug development and deep knowledge of cardiomyopathy and heart failure clinical care delivery, the clinical research landscape, scientific literature, the competitive drug development environment, and regulatory pathways are strongly preferred.
- Experience with genetic screening initiatives for clinical research and clinical care delivery purposes is desired.
- The ability to serve as a highly credible clinical development leader with strong clinical judgment is desired.
- Strategic thinking that balances rigor with speed and pragmatism is desired.
- Strong collaboration and people leadership, with extensive experience leading and building teams, is desired.
- Comfort operating in ambiguity and helping design future-state organizations is desired.
Kardigan develops medicines to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease. It focuses on discovering and developing multiple cardiovascular therapies at a rapid pace, using deep expertise in heart-health drug development to move candidates from research toward commercialization. Their product approach centers on creating medicines that address heart disease more effectively and earlier in the disease process. Kardigan differentiates itself through a leadership team of seasoned biopharma veterans and a commitment to modernizing how cardiovascular drugs are discovered and developed, aiming to bring therapies to patients faster and more efficiently. The company’s goal is to reduce the global burden of cardiovascular disease by providing safe, effective medicines that prevent progression or cure conditions related to heart health.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
South San Francisco, California
Founded
2023
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- June 2026 IPO raised $460 million gross, lifting cash to $660.7 million.
- August 2026: KINSHIP-DCM Phase 3 started, while KARDINAL-ASH enrolled its first patient.
- ESC 2026 presentations and 1H 2027 topline data keep multiple catalysts ahead.
What critics are saying
- Kardigan reported $116.2 million Q2 2026 losses, burning IPO cash quickly.
- All three programs need successful 1H 2027 readouts; one failure could erase valuation.
- No product revenue exists; another financing round before 2028 would dilute shareholders.
What makes Kardigan unique
- Tassos Gianakakos and Jay Edelberg built MyoKardia’s mavacamten playbook, then Kardigan.
- Kardigan pairs Prolaio AI with late-stage cardio trials for narrower, faster registrational studies.
- Danicamtiv, ataciguat, and tonlamarsen target separate unmet cardiovascular niches without approved therapies.
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6 month growth
↑ 15%1 year growth
↑ 15%2 year growth
↑ 30%Kardigan makes strong Nasdaq debut following upsized IPO. Kardigan delivered a notable market debut on the Nasdaq, raising $400m in an upsized initial public offering. Shares of the cardiovascular treatment specialist opened at $16.25, above the $16 IPO price, before climbing more than 22% during the session. This performance underscores a resurgence in investor appetite for biotechnology firms boasting advanced clinical programs and robust growth prospects. Published on 06/18/2026 at 03:52 pm EDT Based in Princeton, New Jersey, Kardigan is developing several precision therapies for cardiovascular diseases. Its pipeline notably includes drug candidates danicamtiv, ataciguat, and tonlamarsen. Management has indicated that pivotal data regarding these three programs are expected during the first half of next year. The company was founded by Tassos Gianakakos and Jay Edelberg, two former executives who played key roles in the development of the heart medication mavacamten at MyoKardia, which was acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb for $13bn in 2020. This transaction takes place within a more favorable environment for biotech IPOs following several years defined by tighter access to capital. However, analysts point out that Kardigan may require additional financing in the medium term. The company stated in its regulatory filings that its current resources would not be sufficient to fund operations for at least twelve months without further capital injections, even though the funds raised are intended to accelerate the development of its clinical programs. (C) MarketScreener.com - 2026
Disclaimer: A SCOOP Rating (Wall Street Consensus of Opening-day Premiums), is a general consensus taken, at press time, from Wall Street and investment professionals concerning how well an IPO might perform when it starts trading. The SCOOP Rating does not reflect the opinions of anyone associated with IPOScoop.com. The SCOOP ratings should not be taken as investment advice. The rating merely reflects the opinion of the professionals at the time of publication and is subject to last-minute changes due to market conditions, changes in a specific offering and other factors, such as changes in the proposed offering terms and the shifting of investor interest in the IPO. The information offered is taken from sources we believe to be reliable, but we cannot guarantee the accuracy.
Kardigan, a clinical-stage precision therapeutics company developing treatments for cardiovascular diseases, has priced its initial public offering of 25 million shares at $16 per share. The offering is expected to generate gross proceeds of $400 million before underwriting discounts and expenses. The company has granted underwriters a 30-day option to purchase an additional 3.75 million shares. Kardigan's shares are expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Market on 18 June 2026 under the ticker symbol "KARD", with the offering closing on 22 June 2026. J.P. Morgan Securities, Jefferies, Leerink Partners and TD Securities are serving as underwriters. Based in South San Francisco and Princeton, Kardigan focuses on developing medicines targeting cardiovascular diseases without approved treatments.
Heart drug biotech Kardigan raises $400m in upscaled IPO. Cardiovascular drug developer Kardigan has completed its IPO, and in common with the prevailing trend in Nasdaq listings this year, has raised substantially more than it originally anticipated. The gross proceeds have come in at around $400 million, with 25 million shares sold for $16 apiece, which compares to Kardigan's earlier objective of selling 23.3 million at a range of $14 to $16. The final tally could be increased by another $60 million or so if underwriters take up an option to buy another 3.75 million shares at the final price. The proceeds - which top up cash reserves of around $287 million held by Kardigan at the end of March - will go towards the company's three clinical-stage drug candidates, which are all in late-stage development, along with R&D and general corporate purposes. Between $80 million and $90 million is earmarked for danicamtiv, an oral cardiac myosin activator for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) driven by MYH7 and TTN gene variants in genes coding for the sarcomere, the functional unit of muscle tissue. That should allow Kardigan to complete an ongoing phase 2b trial and the start of phase 3 development, according to its IPO prospectus. The company has allocated the same amount to ataciguat, a once-daily, oral soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) activator for calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS), and $40 million to $50 million for tonlamarsen, an angiotensinogen-targeted subcutaneous antisense oligonucleotide for blood pressure management in acute severe hypertension (ASH). Once again, that should fund the completion of ongoing phase 2b studies of the two drugs and the start of phase 3, with another $50 million to $60 million pledged to other R&D activities. That includes the further development of its Prolaio platform for applying AI to cardiovascular drug development, which it acquired for up to $200 million. Phase 2b data from the KINSHIP-DCM trial of danicamtiv is due in the first half of 2027, with a series of readouts from the KATALYST-AV study of ataciguat and the KARDINAL study of tonlamarsen also expected next year. Founded by former executives from MyoKardia - which was bought by Bristol Myers Squibb for $13.1 billion in 2020 - Kardigan is based in Princeton, New Jersey, with a second site in South San Francisco. Kardigan's stock is due to start trading on the Nasdaq tomorrow under the KARD ticker symbol. 18 June, 2026
United States heart drug biotech company Kardigan Nasdaq IPO to raise $373 million at $1.4 billion valuation with expected IPO listing on 18th June 2026, co-founded in 2023 by Tassos Gianakakos. Jun 15, 2026 15th June 2026 | Hong Kong United States heart drug biotech company Kardigan Nasdaq IPO is raising $373 million at $1.4 billion valuation, with expected IPO listing on 18th June 2026. Kardigan was co-founded in 2023 by Tassos Gianakakos. Kardigan - Kardigan is a patient-driven heart health company that is modernizing cardiovascular drug development to deliver medicines that move patients beyond symptom management to functional cures. By matching critical disease drivers with treatment responders identified in clinical trials, Kardigan is developing a portfolio of medicines that modify the underlying cardiovascular disease pathophysiology to get patients closer to the cures they deserve. Kardigan has significant East and West Coast operations and focus. "United States heart drug biotech company Kardigan Nasdaq IPO to raise $373 million at $1.4 billion valuation with expected IPO listing on 18th June 2026, co-founded in 2023 by Tassos Gianakakos"